D J Venkatesh
Diglipur, June 02: A few Buses, Purchased under MPLAD funds were put into public service recently in different gram panchayats amid much fanfare. Bus sadly many of these buses were grounded within few months of its launch due to shortage of funds in concerned Panchayats.
According to reports the Bus operating between Kalipur to Diglipur Bazaar has been put off the roads since last more than 20 days due to non-availability of Drivers. It has been learnt that the Panchayat, which was running the said Bus did not pay salary to the last driver for two months due to shortage of funds and hence he left the job.
Another bus which was operated between Ramnagar to Diglipur Bazaar was also grounded two months back due to shortage of funds for driver’s payment in the concerned panchayat.
The service of the MPLAD bus, operating between Kishorinagar – Diglipur and Diglipur- Mayabunder, was disrupted by the Concerned Panchayat nearly two months back due to non-availability of Tyres. According to sources the tyres were damaged as tubes were not properly fit in those tyres.
Talking to Andaman Sheekha, Smti Nilu Mazumdar, the Pradhan of Gram panchayat Shibpur said that by operating the Bus the Panchayat is unable to collect even money for the fuel.
“Forget about payment of Driver and Conductor, the panchayat is unable to collect even the money for fuel. We have no money to pay for their salary and hence we send this bus for marriage and picnic bookings,” Smti Nilu Mazumdar added.
Call it lack of management skills of will power, these buses, which are being run by some other panchayat very professionally has been totally grounded by some panchayat. Is it only a coincident that these buses have failed to yield profit only in Non-BJP panchayats?
Alleging foul play in this entire matter the Pradhan of Tushnabad Gram Panchayat, Mr. Mohan Halder today told Andaman Sheekha that the Panchayat Secretary is not allowing to deposit the amount collected from the Bus in Matching Grant Fund. “For example, if we deposit some amount in Matching Grant fund we get additional Matching Grand of double the amount, from the Administration for the Panchayat. If we deposit Rs. 2 Lakh the Administration will give us additional 4 Lakhs but in this case the Administration is not allowing us to deposit the income from the Bus for Matching Grant and hence we are unable to show profit. Moreover, the Panchayat Secretaries have been directed not to utilize any fund from G.I.A fund for the maintenance of these Buses. When fund collected from a building, constructed from MPLAD fund, can be deposited for matching grant why the money collected from Bus is not accepted for the same fund. A few panchayats are still operating these buses but it is too difficult for us. We are struggling,” Mohan Halder added.
He said that one tyre of the Bus costs nearly Rs. 15,000 and annual insurance is Rs. 60,000. “The Administration directed us to run the bus in no profit no loss basis but if we don’t make profit then how will we bear this additional expenditure. Who will make payment for the Driver and Conductor,” Halder added.
It seems that cheap politics has now started troubling peace loving people of these Islands. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are fast moving towards dirty politics from gentleman politics. Even the funds provided under in MPLAD is actually tax payers’ money and due to some ego problems and political reasons the panchayats are forced to ground these buses, which is not only a wastage of money in local level but also this is a national wastage.
