Visakhapatnam: Tribals allege huge misappropriation of funds

3.95 crore funds released for 13km "mud road"

Visakhapatnam: Badnai Kothamma, a 20-year-old tribal woman from Booriga village in Rompilli panchayat under Ananthagiri Mandal of Alluri Sitarama Raju district, and her family were in distress when she went into labour pain around midnight on a rainy Sunday.

Her husband, Bonjubabu, was unable to transport her to a hospital due to heavy rain that muddied the road.

When the couple called for an ambulance, it got stuck in the mud at Rayapadu Road and couldn't reach Booriga. The family then carried Kothamma in a 'doli' to Rayapadu Road, from where she was taken to S Kota Area Hospital in Vizianagaram district.

Lack of proper roads creates problems not only for Kottamma but also for those who are sick or pregnant in Chinna Konala, Simudivalasa, Bonguja and Boddavalasa villages.

The state government released GO9 and allocated funds for construction of roads in five phases in 2021 for these villages.

Subsequently, on January 17, 2022, it was decided to disburse the material grant in five phases as part of the MGNREGA scheme. An amount of `25 lakh was sanctioned in three instalments.

With these funds, the road construction work commenced, including the removal of the side leg, placing soil on the road to create a gravel road, leadingto the tribal engineering department's confirmation of the completion of the entire road.

However allegations are that the contractors and leaders of the ruling parties colluded to release funds under Work ID No. 0203/RC/9999005196403. Government records indicate that the roads were built at a total cost of `3.95 lakh crore.

Despite multiple complaints from tribals, district-level officials have reportedly ignored the issue.

Two months ago, the body of Booriga villager Easwara Rao was carried in a ‘doli’ from Vanija to Chinna Konala in Vizianagaram district, covering a distance of 8km. Revenue officials questioned the existence of a road for this route.

The tribal welfare engineering officer's report in the MRO inquiry indicated that 13km of the central social welfare board road had been built from NR Puram Pedduru road to Booriga village, though, in fact, only a mud road exists. Tribals allege that government funds had been misappropriated, as the bills showed expenses that were not incurred.

This issue has been raised multiple times -- that tribal welfare engineering officials are misusing funds at the state level.

Konaparthi Simhachalam, from the victim village, is urging the new government to appoint a high-level committee and conduct a judicial inquiry to ensure justice for tribal villages.