Chamba DC dissolves Sanwal panchayat

In a major crackdown on corruption, the Chamba district administration has dismissed the pradhan, up-pradhan, and all ward members of Sanwal Gram Panchayat in Churah subdivision after they were found guilty of embezzling government funds meant for apple plantation work under MGNREGA.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal confirmed the action stating that a recommendation has also been sent to the Panchayati Raj Department, Shimla, to dissolve the Sanwal panchayat.

The scam dates back to 2022, when a complaint revealed irregularities worth crores in the procurement of apple saplings. According to police investigations and subsequent inquiries, eight plantation projects were hastily approved, with Rs 1.17 crore sanctioned in a short span. Of this, around Rs 88 lakh was withdrawn on the basis of forged bills for the supply of 48,500 apple saplings.

However, ground checks showed that the plantation work was either never carried out or done only partially. Most of the saplings were of substandard quality and had dried up. During investigations several supposed beneficiaries confirmed they had never received any plants.

The financial trail uncovered during the inquiry revealed that one of the persons involved in the scam transferred large sums of money to pradhan and his family members, suggesting he acted merely as a conduit. Another person who was shown as the supplier of the saplings did not have sufficient stock, even as he allegedly supplied nearly double the permissible number of plants.

Initially suspended after the scam came to light, the pradhan had challenged the order before the Divisional Commissioner, Dharamsala, who directed a fresh inquiry. The subsequent probe conducted by the SDM, Churah, reaffirmed the charges, leading to Thursday’s dismissal of all elected representatives of Sanwal panchayat.

DC Repaswal said the decision was taken after considering all evidence and inquiry reports. He confirmed that the Panchayati Raj Department has been approached for formally dissolving the panchayat.