Residents of Barunguri village under Komargaon Panchayat in the Raha Assembly constituency have alleged misappropriation of public funds amounting to ₹3.6 lakh meant for the construction of a boundary wall around a public crematorium, triggering demands for an official investigation.
According to locals, the amount was sanctioned in 2022 under the 15th Finance Commission grant for the development of the crematorium infrastructure. However, nearly two years later, no boundary wall has been constructed at the site. Villagers claim that despite the absence of any visible work, official records show the project as completed.
Residents further alleged that photographs submitted to authorities to indicate completion of the work were fabricated and did not correspond to the actual crematorium site. The alleged irregularities have raised serious questions about monitoring and accountability in the execution of the project.
The allegations have been directed at officials associated with the project, including the panchayat president and secretary, the junior engineer concerned, and officials of the Raha development block. Locals claim that repeated verbal complaints yielded no response, forcing them to raise the issue publicly.
Expressing anger and disappointment, villagers have demanded a thorough inquiry by higher authorities and strict action against those found guilty of misusing public money. They stressed that funds allocated for essential community infrastructure must be utilised transparently and for their intended purpose.
When contacted, officials concerned have not yet issued a detailed response. The district administration is expected to take note of the allegations and decide on further action following preliminary verification.
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