DJ Venkatesh
Diglipur, Mar 02: Panchayat Samiti works and payments are now days under freeze at Diglipur sub Division.
The reason behind this is the recent arrest of the Asst Engineer of Panchayat Samiti Mr. S Vijay Kumar, who was caught red handed by the anti corruption unit allegedly while accepting the bribe from a contractor.
After that he was produced before Sessions court at Port Blair where he was sent to Judicial Custody.
All 15 Panchayats and Samitis of Diglipur are running under the supervision of the Asst Engineer.
The Executive Engineer of Panchayat & Samiti office is situated at Mayabunder, whose jurisdiction is from Baratang to Diglipur.
So for EE, it is impossible to attend daily works at Diglipur.
Adding to the pain seven Junior Engineers have been recently appointed in a span of 15 days at Diglipur under RD, who are new at work.
The construction works activities, payment bills of all Co-operative societies and private contractors are at stand still since after AE’s arrest.
Soon the financial year is going to close on 31 March and if no action is taken to appointment a new AE more problems will arise.
It has been learnt that when some contractors complained this matter to the Executive Engineer, the EE reportedly said that there is no official intimation of arrest of the said AE so no action was taken to appoint any other.
The Secretary, Rural & Development, Directorate of Panchayats should take action in this regard soon otherwise all works will remain pending further without any guidance and unemployed youth will suffer most for not being able to complete works.
