Bhubaneswar: As many as 19 Sarpanchs in Telkoi block of Odisha’s Keonjhar district have resigned from their posts alleging irregularities in the implementation of developmental projects and government schemes in their localities.
The Sarpanchs have submitted their resignation to Keonjhar Sub-Collector.
In their resignation letter, the Sarpanchs have alleged that they were facing problems in undertaking developmental works in their localities due to the non-cooperation from the officials at Telkoi block.
According to the Sarpanchs, the state government has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh to each panchayats in Odisha for the information, education and communication (IEC) campaign with regard to the inauguration of Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project in Puri on January 17. However, the block administration in Telkoi is spending the money without consulting the elected representative of Panchayati Raj institutions, they alleged.
“We are facing several issues due to the non-cooperation and unilateral approach of the Telkoi block administration. Therefore, we have decided to resign from our posts en masse,” said the Sarpanchs in their resignation letter.
Telkoi Block Development Officer (BDO) Gita Murmu, however, rejected the allegations.
“The state government has sanctioned money for the block as well as each panchayat for IEC campaign on the Jagannath temple heritage corridor project. We have provided the money to the panchayats after keeping an amount for similar activities at the block level,” said the BDO.
