Funds for low cost latrines swindled ?
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 12 2015 :
Even as a number of low cost latrines sanctioned under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan (NBA) for Ward No 1 and Ward No 3 of Khonghampat Gram Panchayat have not been constructed at all or abandoned incomplete, funds sanctioned for these works have been withdrawn, said Imphal West Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha Y Dasumati.
According to a report of 2012, altogether 390 low cost latrines should be built within Khonghampat GP.
PHED Imphal West report of 2013-14 claimed that 33 low cost sanitary latrines had been built and funds sanctioned for these works were withdrawn.
But no detailed report was furnished nor these information uploaded on the relevant website.
The report of 2014-15 claimed that low cost latrines have been built for 40 households and this information was uploaded on a website.
Although funds sanctioned for the 40 low cost latrines have been withdrawn, many of the low cost latrines were not constructed at all while many others were abandoned incomplete, Dasumati alleged.
Whether 33 other low cost latrines have been built or not remains obscure as no detailed report has been furnished.
As for 40 low cost latrines, the Village Water and Sanitation Committee (VWSC) has learnt that the sanctioned amount has been withdrawn.
Under NBA, beneficiaries should produce Rs 900 each while the Government should pay Rs 5100 each for construction of low cost sanitary latrines.
But some people have been swindling funds sanctioned for the scheme at the cost of poor beneficiaries, Dasumati said.
She urged the State Government to identify the wrongdoers and ensure that all the beneficiaries get what are entitled to them.
Khonghampat Youth Club president Y Japan also urged the Government to check misappropriation of funds sanctioned for construction of low cost sanitary latrines.
In case the State Government fails to take up necessary action at the earliest, the matter would be apprised to the Government of India, he added.