Vellalore residents cry foul over stalled civic body projects

Coimbatore: Residents of Vellalore town panchayat protested outside a community hall near Venkateshwara Nagar after civic body projects are stalled for more than two years. The protest broke out when the revenue officials began collecting taxes from the residents.

J Daniel, an RTI activist and DMK member said replies for RTI applications revealed that Rs 45 lakh was sanctioned for two projects - one for road and another for drain - and tenders were called in 2015 but they were either not taken up or stalled mid-way. "The projects had been sanctioned. But I suspect that the officials had diverted the funds for election and for other projects," he said.

On the other hand, when contacted panchayat officials said they did not have funds to carry out the projects. An official said the drain project and the road project had begun but due to technical difficulties, they could not be carried out.

But residents said RTI replies clearly revealed that the funds had been allotted. "Lack of funds cannot be accepted as the projects were allotted funds. The contractor claims that they were not paid. So definitely there is a scam or funds have been diverted," said a resident.

The local police reached the spot and held talks with residents. Meanwhile, panchayat officials said the work on the road project would begin in the evening. However, residents said until evening the work was yet to be taken up.

Residents said they have petitioned the district collector but no action had been taken. "We will undertake a bigger protest if the road work does not take off soon," said Daniel.