Raichur: Now a toilet fund scam too has come to light! The Raichur City Muncipal Council(CMC) has served notice on 8,700 beneficiaries who allegedly misused funds released for building individual toilets under the ambitious Swachh Bharat Mission of the Centre.
The CMC has warned the beneficiaries that if they fail to return the money within 24 hours, legal proceedings will be initiated against them for misuse of funds.
The CMC had invited applications during 2016-17 for construction of individual toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission. It received as many as 9,000 applications from the public in 35 wards in the CMC limits.
After scrutiny of applications and inspection of sites, the authorities found that nearly 300 applicants were not eligible. The then CMC Commissioner, K Gurulingappa and Incharge Engineer Mahaboob Ali deposited a total Rs 2.8 crore- Rs 2,667 each- in the bank accounts of these 8,700 beneficiaries.
During inspections, it came to light that nearly two years after depositing the money, the beneficiaries have failed to build the toilets.
During the recent review meeting, the Deputy Commissioner Dr Gautam Bagadi vent his ire on the CMC authorities for failing to achieve the target. He ordered immediate action against the officials involved. While Manager Basavaraj was immediately relieved from duty, another officer, Akhtar was suspended on the spot. In the wake of action by the DC, the present CMC Commissioner Ramesh Naik and Environment Engineer Jaipal Reddy swung into action and inspected various wards to serve notices on the beneficiaries. It is learnt that the authorities have set a 24 hour deadline for the beneificiaries to either return the money or get the toilets built. ‘We will give seven days time if the beneficiaries immediately start the construction work”, a senior officer informed.
