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Local body chief defends project

ENADIMANGALAM (Pathanamthitta district): A day-care centre-cum-old-age home constructed by the Pathanamthitta district panchayat in the Anchumala Schedule Caste colony at Enadimangalam grama panchayat, near Adoor, has kicked up a controversy following some critical remarks in the Local Audit Report of 2006-07 prepared on behalf of the Accountant General.

The Opposition Congress and its youth wing have launched a campaign against the district panchayat, demanding the resignation of panchayat president A. Santhakumari on the basis of the references in the audit report against the local-self government institution, which spent Rs.56 lakh for constructing a day-care centre a year ago.

Stating certain irregularities in the construction of the day-care centre at the colony and a road leading to it under the Special Component Plan, the opening paragraph of the Accountant General’s audit report says that it has been constructed in ‘a private property in a non-populated hill area.’

Terming the reference made by the auditor “false and fabricated,” the district panchayat president said that the project has been implemented at the Anchumala colony that houses as many as 350 people, including children, belonging to Kurava community. Ms. Santhakumari said the project has been implemented with the sole intention of extending welfare measures to the hapless people.

The panchayat president said the double-storeyed, day-care centre-cum-old-age home has been constructed in 10 cents of land relinquished by three local people for the same and not a private property.

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