Two Akali panchayats approach HC, seek direct funds from govt

Flay release of grants to agencies for village development

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 21

In a major embarrassment to the ruling SAD, two Akali panchayats in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment have filed petitions in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking direct allocation of funds to the panchayats.

The panchayats of Dhulkot and Butter Shrinh villages, led by the ruling SAD, have challenged the practice of the distribution of grants to various agencies for development works in villages.

The sarpanches of both villages accused SAD’s Gidderbaha constituency incharge Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy’ Dhillon of not allowing the authorities to give them funds.

Surjit Singh, sarpanch of Dhulkot village, said, “The panchayat of this village, which was elected in 2013, got just Rs 5 lakh for the construction of a gym in the last about three years. The halqa incharge did not allow any development work through the village panchayat. Even the grants sanctioned during the CM’s sangat darshans did not come to the panchayat’s account.”

Bikkar Singh, sarpanch of Buttar Shrinh village, claimed, “After getting the grants for development works once, we have not got a single penny. Development works are done through some departments and not by the panchayat. We want that the funds should be given to the village panchayat so that the money is utilised more judiciously.”

The sarpanches claimed that as per norms, the funds should have come to the panchayat’s bank account. The high court has clubbed both petitions and the first hearing will take place on August 16.

Courtesy: The Tribune