The District Citizens Forum, Kandhamal, expressed grave concern over growing corruption, irregularities and lapses in various programmes of the government and resolved to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in this regard.
The largest civil society body held its general body meeting here on Monday to deliberate on various issues that are bogging down development of the backward Kandhamal district. The organisation resolved to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and put forth its demands which remained unaddressed since long.
The CM had promised nine years ago that he will personally monitor developmental activities of Kandhamal district. But he has failed to do so. The Forum demanded the Chief Minister to review the developmental activities and curb corruption in all departments.
Several instances of irregularities were discussed. The revenue staff pressed in to the 12 years long Ganjam- Koraput Major Settlement work indulged in corruption directly violating the norms and stipulations of the Settlement laws and collected lakhs of rupees from poor and innocent tribals alleged the members of the Forum.
The civic body has demanded the CM to review such cases for the end of justice and take stringent actions against errant officials. Fresh settlement courts need to be set up otherwise the victimized tribals will take law in to their own hands, noted the Forum.
The DCF also demanded the CM to order for an enquiry against the activities of both the Integrated Tribal Development Agencies (ITDA) at Phulbani and Baliguda. The Forum demanded filling up of 92 sanctioned posts of doctors in different hospitals and hundreds of posts of lecturers in different colleges in the district which are lying vacant.
Phulbani Municipality and NACs at G.Udayagiri and Balliguda have failed to provide stable power and water supply to the people and miserably failed in implementation of Swacha Bharat Yojana, it alleged. The tahasil and revenue inspectors offices have become den of corruption, the DCF strongly alleged.