Deoghar, Amarnath Poddar: The foundation stone for the renovation of a private pond in Sarath and Palojori blocks in the financial year 2019-20 was laid by the Soil Conservation Office of the Agriculture Department without allotment of funds. These include Nawadih, Kapsa, Palojori villages of Palojori block and Karehiya village of Sarath block. After the foundation stone was laid in these villages, the renovation of the pond started, but due to the department not getting full funds, the work is incomplete till date. There is not even a drop of water in the incomplete pond in Kapasa village of Palojori block. So far, Rs 34 lakh has been paid in these four ponds, but in four years the work on the pond has not been done as per the estimate.
According to the department, Rs 5.73 lakh were spent in the scheme of Rs 10.67 lakh in Nawadih village of Palojori block, Rs 5.36 lakh in the scheme of Rs 8.82 lakh in Kapsa village, Rs 6.98 lakh in the scheme of Rs 9.19 lakh in Palojori village and Rs 18.99 lakh in Karehiya village of Sarath block. Rs 14.85 lakh has been paid under the scheme. Due to the scheme remaining incomplete in these four years, these ponds have also been filled with soil during the rains. Four years later, when the Land Conservation Office asked for funds from the headquarters to complete the incomplete work, the payment was blocked by senior officials. In fact, the foundation stone of these ponds was laid in a hurry before the elections in the financial year 2019-20.
According to estimates, due to the excavation of the pond not being completed, sufficient water is not accumulating in it. Four ponds were to be renovated in Nawadih, Kapsa, Palojori of Palojori block and Karehiya village of Sarath.
Pond lying dry due to incomplete excavation
Deoghar Sanjay Chaudhary, Land Conservation Survey Officer, said that the renovation of these ponds was started before March in the financial year 2019-20. The plans could not be completed due to lack of funds. Funds did not arrive even in March, due to which the plan remained incomplete. Demand for the remaining amount was made several times from the headquarters, but the payment has not been made yet. If funds come, payment will not be made without verification. Payment will be made only as per the work done.