Coimbatore: Tension prevailed in Thirumalaiampalayam on Tuesday with public encircling the Panchayat office. They alleged that they were cheated of money that was collected with the promise of buillding lavatories in their area.
Coimbatore: Tension prevailed in Thirumalaiampalayam on Tuesday with public encircling the Panchayat office. They alleged that they were cheated of money that was collected with the promise of buillding lavatories in their area.
Hundreds of residents stormed in front of the Panchayat office demanding legal action on the officials who failed to construct lavatories for the 700 houses, as promised. They alleged that those who promised had faked the records which were showing that lavatories had already been constructed.
There are approximately more than 1000 houses in Thirumalaiampalayam Panchayat of Coimbatore district. Under the Central Government's "Clean India" scheme, the Panchayat office proposed a budget of Rs.8000 per toilet and collected Rs. 4,000 from 768 houses about three years ago. The Panchayat officials allegedly pooled in a consolidated sum of Rs.56 lakhs.
Since then, the residents have been following up with the Panchayat officials to expedite the process. However, the officials continued to give lame excuses for the delay.
Recently, the hopes of the residents were shattered after the Panchayat officials put up a banner against open defacation and urged residents to use lavatories instead. Irked by the publicity stunt by the officials claiming to have built lavatories, the residents decided to take the issue to the streets.
As per Panchayat records, Thirumalaiyampalayam Panchayat has 784 lavatories but in reality, there are just a few fully functional lavatories and many incomplete ones.
The pitiable scenario brings to mind the Tamil movie 'Joker' in which lavatories would be just on papers.
Infuriated by the deceit of officials, more than 50 residents encircled the Panchayat office and staged a demonstration. As the agitation became aggravated, police rushed to the spot to pacify the people and disperse them. The protestors who refused to abort their protest urged legal action against the corrupt officials for faking documents and swindling public money.
Commenting on their plight, Anitha, a resident said that the government officials had collected Rs.4000 from each house for constructing lavatories. However, only basic structural work was carried out and the project was dumped. A visibly upset Anitha opined that women are the worst-affected. "Lack of lavatories has been causing us health issues and embarrassment. Especially during our monthly cycles, women and young girls face immense inconvenience and stress. They have built just a few lavatories for namesake and left the rest unfinished."
Rameshkumar another resident claimed that officials under the "Clean India" scheme, had obtained approval for constructing 784 lavatories. "Without completing the project, the officials have swindled Rs. 56 lakhs from the public and left them in the lurch. Legal action should be initiated against them," he urged.
The residents avowed to intensify their protests if a solution was not found soon.