Three blocks run by one BDO in Rajouri

Our Correspondent

Rajouri , May 13

In Rajouri district, one Block Development Officer (BDO) has been looking after the affairs of three blocks as a result of which more than 1 lakh people from 58 panchayats have been on the receiving end.

“Almost all development works in the three blocks have come to a standstill as those earning their livelihood through the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and other schemes have not received their payments,” said Shakeel Singh, a social activist from the Khawas panchayat.

Shakeel said the BDO, Khawas, was transferred about a year ago, but no new BDO was appointed. He said the post of the BDO, Budhal, was lying vacant and the BDO, Kotranka, Shafiq Mir, had been given the additional charge of the Khawas and Budhal blocks.

“Kotranka is about 35 km from Khawas and only one passenger bus plies on the route because the road is in a bad condition and mostly remains closed due to landslides. Those coming to Kotranka for getting their work done rarely find the BDO in his office,” said Shakeel Singh.

The development works taken up in the three blocks have been stopped as the labourers and contractors are not getting their payments and the employees posted at the office of the BDO, Kotranka, mostly remain on unauthorised absence from duty, said Wazir Ahmed, a resident of Kotranka.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Kotranka, said he had been receiving complaints from people about the poor functioning of the Kotranka BDO office.

Locals said 10 shops constructed by the RDD at Kewal Model village and Agriculture and Horticulture Department buildings in the Budhal block had been occupied illegally by some locals.

“A local is running a private academy at the panchayat ghar in Kewal village. The government has sanctioned a new post of the Tehsil Supply Officer for Budhal but he has no office to operate from and functions from a rented shop as the government buildings have been illegally occupied by militancy victims,” said the Kotranka SDM.

After several complaint, the SDM, Sukhpal Singh, today paid a surprise visit to the office and found 20 employees absent.