DARJEELING,: Claiming that 25 new rural roads are being laid in the hills and
plains here worth Rs 159 crore, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista on Wednesday asked
people from these respective places form a monitoring committee to conduct ‘social
audits’ of these projects so that there is no corruption during the
construction phase.
In a press
release, Bista said, “We are beginning the year 2025 with 25 new rural road
projects under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in the districts of
Darjeeling and Kalimpong, including the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad. These road
projects will build a total of 194.33 km rural roads.”
“We have
worked very hard to get funds for these projects released, therefore it is our
duty to ensure that there is no ‘ghotala’ (corruption) during the construction
phase. I am therefore requesting the people, especially those who are
associated with social organisations, samaj, NGOs and political parties
residing in these areas to kindly collaborate and form a monitoring committee
to conduct social audits of these projects, so that all of you can become involved
and oversee the work that will be undertaken,” Bista added.
Bista
maintained that these were public funds, sent by the Central Government to
ensure that rural villages in the region become connected with proper road
networks.
“It is our
collective duty to make sure that there is no corruption in the execution of
these projects, and this will only be possible if local MLAs, GTA Sabhasads,
Mahakuma Parishad members, Panchayat Samiti members, Gram Panchayat members,
Samaj members, members of NGOs and social organisations, and concerned citizens
get involved in strictly monitoring these projects and conduct social audit of
these projects,” said Bista.
The
Darjeeling MP in the press release stated that the tender for these roads have
been called, and those interested could view it in the website: https:// pmgsytenderswb.gov.in/nicgep/app
while also encouraging people to download the Meri Sadak App in their mobiles through
which they can file a complaint directly to the Central PMGSY Monitoring Cell,
along with the GPS location of the project.
“This will
help in keeping a strict vigil and check on the quality of the work being
done,” Bista said.
Some of
the road stretches mentioned in the press release includes Gidda Pahar to
Rohini via Lower Sirubari along with Ghumti to Mahaldiram via Shivakhola under
Kurseong Block, Pobong to Namring via Power House and Mungpoo PWD Road to
Takdah Cantonment under Rangli-Rangliot block. In Mirik block, the road stretches
mentioned are Soureni Bazar to Dus No. Fatak and Kharbari to Dudhey SH 12 via
Nole.
