Bettiah:
Serious irregularities have come to light in the under-construction Panchayat Government Building at Padariya village under Kukra Panchayat of Narkatiaganj block in Bettiah district. Following multiple complaints from villagers, the block administration carried out a surprise inspection of the construction work.
During the inspection, Block Panchayat Raj Officer (BPRO) Vivek Arya reached the site and closely examined the ongoing work. Several shortcomings were found, prompting him to strongly reprimand the staff of the construction agency. He stated that a detailed report on the entire matter would be submitted to the District Magistrate.
BPRO Vivek Arya informed that substandard construction material was being used in the building. The quality of sand at the site was extremely poor and was even found to be mixed with grass, making it completely unsuitable for government construction projects.
Apart from this, the quality of concrete was also below standard. Major discrepancies were found in the size of iron rods used in the structure. While the approved technical drawings required specific sizes, rods of 12 mm, 16 mm, and 18 mm were being used arbitrarily at different locations, which is a clear violation of sanctioned plans and technical norms.
The irregularities surfaced after repeated complaints by villagers, including Panchayat head Pradeep Kumar. The villagers had earlier submitted written complaints to the District Magistrate, Sub-Divisional Officer, Block Development Officer, and the Junior Engineer of the Building Construction Department, alleging corruption and misuse of government funds in the construction of the Panchayat building. Complainants included villagers such as Pradeep Patel, Rakesh Patel, Vijay Chaudhary, Ajay Yadav, and Manoj Mahto.
The BPRO clarified that the lapses found during inspection are being taken very seriously, and a detailed report will be forwarded to the district administration for strict action against the responsible construction agency.
Villagers have demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter and strict punishment for those found guilty so that the quality of government buildings is not compromised and public funds are not misused.