Nagrota Surian panchayat deputy head suspended

Nurpur, January 15

The Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Department today suspended Veena Kumari, deputy head of Kuther gram panchayat in Nagrota Surian block for alleged irregularities in the construction of a crematorium. She had earlier remained the pradhan of the panchayat.

Two residents of Kuther panchayat had submitted a complaint against Veena to the Nagrota Surian BDO regarding alleged irregularities. The BDO after conducting a preliminary inquiry had issued a show-cause notice to her but her reply was not found satisfactory. She was found prima facie guilty of committing the alleged irregularities.

According to the probe report, Rs 66.73 lakh was spent on seven items from 2015-16 to 2020-21 for the construction of a cremation ground on forestland without procuring a no-objection certificate. Veena said the construction of the crematorium had started before she became the panchayat pradhan.