Amravati. The responsibility of providing basic facilities to the rural areas of the district rests on the shoulders of the Zilla Parishad administration. That is why Zilla Parishad is also known as mini ministry. But during the period of lockdown, there have been cases of irregularities in the work being done in different departments of the Zilla Parishad.
In which information about corruption in the purchase of books, chikki from the education department has come to the fore. Whereas before the summer, the work of setting up a fodder center was started to keep the cattle of the farmers free from the shortage of fodder. But even in its tender process, the matter of scam has come to the fore.
Revealed in the investigation of the three-member committee
The special thing is that a three-member inquiry committee has been constituted by the new CEO of Zip Avishant Panda to uncover the financial irregularities in these works. To provide useful books in libraries in rural areas on behalf of the Zip Education Department, books were to be purchased at a cost of Rs 28 lakh.
But according to the information received, only 13 lakh books have been purchased. Whereas the entire bill for the amount provided has been passed. This irregularity has come to the fore from the evaluation done by the Zip Audit Department.
Various financial irregularities exposed
Even before this, such financial irregularities have been seen in the schemes related to educational works in the Zilla Parishad. Similarly, this year, preparations were made to set up about 40 new fodder centers across the district. Every year during the summers, there is a crisis in the district regarding the availability of fodder. In such a situation, with the aim of providing relief to the cattle rearing farmers, these centers were to be made in the panchayat areas.
For this, 80 lakh rupees were made available under MNREGA. While a fund of Rs 23 lakh was handed over by the Animal Department. Unfortunately, despite the completion of the tender process, only 28 fodder centers have been set up so far. In this case, allegations are being made of the involvement of the officials of the Zip Construction Department.
Allegations of collusion with contractors
The responsibility of 40 fodder centers to be built under the Zilla Parishad was entrusted to the Zip Construction Department. But the officials of the construction department are being accused of giving benefits to their favorite contractors in the tender process. It has also been said on behalf of the officials that decisions have been taken by the officials in this matter keeping the Standing Committee in the dark. At present, the Standing Committee has taken all the officers to provide funds in this matter.