Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Rs 33 lakh Gunupur development fund unspent for three years
The town of Gunupur got money from the government to build roads and other useful things.
The money is about 33 lakh rupees, which is a lot of money.
But the money has not been used for almost three years.
The people in charge are arguing about why.
The person who represents Gunupur in the state assembly asked the town's vice-chairman why the work is delayed.
The agency that wants to do the work asked the town for permission, but did not get an answer.
The vice-chairman says the town council must say yes first.
A town councillor says the council was never asked to decide.
The district collector has promised to look into the problem.
The people of Gunupur are still waiting for their roads to be built.
Nearly Rs 33 lakh sanctioned under the Biju KBK programme for Gunupur Municipality development works has remained unspent since 2023.
The funds were meant for roads and civic infrastructure at about 10 locations in Wards 3, 4, 5, 7, 11 and 16.
MLA Satyajit Gamang confronted Municipal Vice-Chairman Siba Prasad Goud over delayed project clearances.
ITDA sought municipal permission to execute the works, issuing a letter on November 26, 2025, and reportedly received no response.
Vice-Chairman Goud says council approval is required, while BJD councillor Debi Prasad Acharya alleges the issue was never placed on the council agenda.
- Who
- Gunupur MLA Satyajit Gamang, Municipal Vice-Chairman Siba Prasad Goud, ITDA, and municipal officials
- What
- Nearly Rs 33 lakh in Biju KBK development funds for Gunupur Municipality remain unspent for three years amid disputes over project clearances
- When
- Funds unspent since 2023; ITDA clearance letter issued November 26, 2025
- Where
- Gunupur Municipality, Rayagada district, Odisha
- Why
- Delays in obtaining municipal permission and council approval for executing the sanctioned development works
Municipality accountable for delay
Council rules require approval
Responsibility for the delay
Municipality accountable for delay
MLA Gamang and BJD councillor Acharya say the issue was never properly placed on the municipal council agenda despite several meetings over three years, making the municipality accountable for the stalled funds.
Council rules require approval
Vice-Chairman Goud maintains that no action can be taken without a decision of the municipal council, so the delay follows the required procedure.
Handling of ITDA's clearance request
Municipality accountable for delay
If council permission was necessary, the Chairperson should have ensured the proposal was placed before the council; if not, the municipality should have clarified its position to ITDA instead of leaving the matter pending.
Council rules require approval
The Vice-Chairman insists council approval is mandatory before any work can proceed, and Municipal Executive Officer Santosh Nayak says clearance will be provided in accordance with the rules.
- Fund amount
- Nearly Rs 33 lakh
- Funding programme
- Biju KBK
- Unspent since
- 2023
- Project locations
- About 10 sites in Wards 3, 4, 5, 7, 11 and 16
- Planned works
- Roads and civic infrastructure
- ITDA letter date
- November 26, 2025
- Municipality
- Gunupur Municipality
- District
- Rayagada, Odisha