Local Bodies Dept rejects council’s fund proposals

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, November 27

The Department of Local Bodies has rejected all three proposals of the Sunam Nagar council (NC) for funds under the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations. The NC had prepared the proposals for the construction of an already constructed road and other developmental works. The new proposal would be prepared under the supervision of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) concerned.

The issue was highlighted in these columns on November 26.

“I met A Venu Prasad, Principal Sectary, Local Bodies Department, on Monday and made him aware about the misleading estimates prepared by Sunam NC officers. Prasad has sought a final estimate to facilitate the release of funds. NC officers wanted to misappropriate funds by preparing misleading estimates. There is no need to construct a road to connect the historic Gurudwara Sahib Pehli Patshahi with other places as the road is already there,” said Daman Thind Bajwa, spokesperson for the Punjab Pardesh Congress Committee (PPCC).

The NC officers first prepared an estimate of Rs 12 crore for various developmental works, without conducting a proper study about the requirements of the city. They then lowered the estimate to Rs 44 lakh for the construction of an already constructed road and later, in another estimate, they lowered the amount to Rs 5.50 lakh.

“As per the new estimate, funds have been sought for 10 trucks for door-to-door garbage collection, two blocks of toilets and beautification of Shiv Niketan Chowk of the city. We have asked for Rs 60 lakh for the development of Sunam city,” Bajwa said.

Sangrur eputy Commissioner Ghanshayam Thori said he had directed the authorities concerned to supervise the preparation of another estimate.

“I have directed the Sunam SDM to vet the proposal of NC officers before sending it to the Local Bodies Department, to prevent any further problem in the process,” the Deputy Commissioner said.