Govt to probe Rs 1200 cr Punjab Nirman fund

Jalandhar, Apr 2 (UNI) The Punjab government has decided to initiate inquiry into the Rs 1200 crore Punjab Nirman Scheme fund disbursed during the previous Congress regime.

Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjit Singh Brahmpura before the meeting with officials from Jalandhar, Hoshiapur, Kapurthala and Nawanshahar regarding rural development, told mediapersons here today that a departmental inquiry would be ordered into the disbursement and spendings of the Rs 1200 crore Punjab Nirman Scheme fund alloted to village panchayats by the previous Congress government.

''The Amarinder Singh government in the first four-and-half months did not spend any money but in the last six months, disbursed the entire amount to village panchayats,'' he said. After the inquiry, all the un-utilised funds would be recovered and the guilty would be punished, he added.

The Minister also mooted a proposal to set up a flying squad at the sub-divisional level for the immediate redressal of villagers complaints, adding that Block Development Officer (BDO) along with other officials would monitor the squad.

For proper coordination among the panches and sarpanch, the Minister said dates and time for the meetings would be fixed and the panchayat secretary would be asked to maintain the panchayat record.

Mr Brahmpura said the fund allocated to the panchayat and its expenditure would be mentioned on a board fixed at the panchayat Bhawans for transparent and proper working.

UNI