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West Bengal Plans Panchayat Audits Amid Hills Development Delays
The West Bengal government plans to check the work of 10% of its panchayats.
This follows complaints that some rural bodies may have had irregularities.
Many jobs in the panchayat system are empty, which means fewer workers are available.
Heavy rain also slowed construction and other development work in the hills.
The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration currently has an appointed administrator instead of elected leaders.
He has been asked to prepare plans for new development projects.
The government says work should continue even where some local posts are vacant.
Officials were told to finish projects on time.
Minister Dilip Ghosh also criticized the Trinamool Congress at a BJP meeting.
West Bengal will conduct special audits at 10% of panchayats following complaints of irregularities.
The state has 3,339 gram panchayats and 345 panchayat samitis, with about 11,000 posts vacant.
Minister Dilip Ghosh said staff shortages and prolonged heavy rain delayed development work in the hills.
GTA administrator Smrutiranjan Mohanty was asked to submit a draft proposal for hill development projects.
Ghosh said proposed Panchayat Act amendments would not conflict with laws governing the tea sector.
- Who
- The West Bengal panchayat and rural development department, Minister Dilip Ghosh, and Gorkhaland Territorial Administration administrator Smrutiranjan Mohanty.
- What
- The government will audit 10% of panchayats and prepare development proposals for the hills.
- Where
- The review meetings took place at Uttarkanya in Siliguri and in Jalpaiguri, covering Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts.
- When
- The announcements were made on Saturday; Smrutiranjan Mohanty was appointed GTA administrator on September 7.
- Why
- The audits follow complaints of irregularities, while development delays were attributed to staff shortages and excessive rain.
Government and BJP Position
Reported Criticism and Concerns
Reasons for delayed development
Government and BJP Position
Dilip Ghosh attributed delays in hill projects to manpower shortages and prolonged rain, and said work would proceed through proposals prepared by the GTA administrator.
Reported Criticism and Concerns
The article reports complaints of irregularities in some panchayats and notes that around 11,000 rural-body posts remain vacant, raising administrative concerns.
Political record
Government and BJP Position
Ghosh accused the Trinamool Congress of preventing BJP candidates from contesting elections and of subjecting BJP workers to years of alleged atrocities.
Reported Criticism and Concerns
The article presents these statements as Ghosh's political criticism and does not include a response from the Trinamool Congress.
Key facts
- Panchayat audits
- Special audits will cover 10% of panchayats.
- Gram panchayats
- 3,339 were reported to be functioning across the state.
- Panchayat samitis
- 345 were reported to be functioning across the state.
- Vacant posts
- Around 11,000 posts were vacant in rural bodies.
- GTA administrator
- IAS officer Smrutiranjan Mohanty was appointed on September 7 and will serve until fresh GTA elections.
- Reported delays
- Manpower shortages and excessive rain affected development work in the hills.
- Legislative changes
- Amendments to the Panchayat Act are being prepared and are intended not to conflict with tea-sector laws.
Quotes
Dilip Ghosh
West Bengal panchayat and rural development minister
“We have received complaints against 10 per cent of the panchayats, and the department will conduct a special audit in the respective rural bodies. The post of sabhadhipati at the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad and the posts of heads of several rural bodies in south Bengal are lying vacant. But this will not affect development projects in the respective areas.”
telegraphindia.com
“Of the around 11,000 vacant posts in the rural bodies, some are in the GTA area. The shortage of manpower and excessive rain have affected development in the hills. We have asked the GTA’s administrator to submit a draft proposal for development projects in the hills, and work will be undertaken accordingly.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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