A political exchange broke out in Jharkhand on Wednesday over the utilisation of funds released for panchayats, with the BJP raising concerns over transparency in spending and the Congress rejecting the allegations as politically motivated.
Addressing a press conference here, BJP state vice-president Bhanu Pratap Shahi said Rs 2,254 crore had been released for the state’s 4,342 panchayats and stressed the need for transparent utilisation of the funds.
He said each panchayat would receive around Rs 52 lakh, which should be used for local infrastructure and civic works, such as roads, drains, schools, anganwadi centres, hospitals and panchayat buildings, based on local requirements.
Shahi urged elected grassroots representatives to monitor the expenditure and ensure that the funds were used for development purposes. He said the BJP would keep a close watch on the utilisation of the grants and alleged that irregularities could arise in the absence of proper oversight.
He also referred to delays in the implementation of some centrally sponsored schemes in the state and said the party would raise the issue if any irregularities were found in the use of panchayat funds.
Responding to the remarks, Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee media chairman Satish Paul Munjani said the BJP’s allegations were baseless and aimed at creating confusion over funds meant for rural development.
In a statement, Munjani said the funds released for panchayats were part of the state’s constitutional entitlement and should not be projected as a political favour.
He rejected allegations of possible “cut commission” in the utilisation of the funds and said the state government was committed to ensuring transparent spending at the grassroots level.
Munjani also accused the BJP of attempting to provoke elected panchayat representatives instead of supporting development work and said the government would ensure proper utilisation of the funds.
The exchange has brought focus on the utilisation and monitoring of funds meant for grassroots governance in the state.