At a time when the BJD-led government is claiming that a clean and corruption-free government is ruling the State, the ground reality tells a different story.
The residents of Dhumant Panchayat under Sadar block office in Kendrapara district on Thursday staged a sit-in at the block office, protesting against officers demanding PC (percentage commission) to get their work done.
“I was awarded a project worth Rs 1.5 lakh. They deducted Rs 25,000. From the rest Rs 1.25 lakh, Rs 6,700 was again deducted towards the PC of some officers including the chairman,” alleged a contractor, Chittaranjan Mallik.
“In the PC transaction, all from top to bottom, including the BDO madam, are involved. Sarpanch’s middlemen are demanding Rs2,000 to provide ration cards,” alleged Debadutta Jena, a Dhumata Panchayat resident.
When asked, Kendrapada block chairperson Rashmita Sethi said, “I am not aware of such allegations. I will take action after receiving complaints.”
A similar picture emerged from Koraput district.
Dambaru Jani, a resident of Dinda Rajaguda village under Boriguma block, is a PMAY beneficiary. Two years ago, he was awarded a house under the yojana. Instead of Rs 1,30,000, he was given Rs 1,00,000. For the rest Rs 30,000, he has been moving from the block office to the bank, but to no avail. Family members have reportedly been told that the money has been kept towards PC.
“For the last installment of Rs 30,000, my father has been moving from block office to bank,” alleged Dambaru Jani’s daughter.
The PC practice is also rampant at Soro municipality in Balasore district.
A contractor of Soro area, Abinash Patra had constructed a market complex at Anantapur square at a cost of Rs 51 lakh. But his bill is yet to be cleared. Patra alleged the Municipality JE is deliberately harassing him as he didn’t pay the PC as he demanded.
The Opposition too raised the PC issue in the House on Wednesday.
“Here BDOs demand 40 percent PC. Even the Vigilance department officials are being caught red-handed while accepting bribes. They (BJD) are earning money through this unfair means and spending the same in elections,” alleged Leader of Opposition (LoP), Jayanarayan Mishra.
In his reaction, ruling BJD MLA Amar Satpathy said, “Anyone found guilty, action has been taken against them which was not the case earlier. They have also been convicted. We are not allowing corruption.”
(Reported by Manoj Swain, T Gouri Shankar, Niranjan Behera and Harihar Chand, OTV)