“The District Administration Office (DAO) directs us to send the vehicles though we tell the office that we have already spent the amount allocated for vehicle fuels,” complained an official, “So there is no alternative other than to spend the development budget to supply fuel for vehicles.”
The offices in the district have spent five times the amount allocated for fuel at the cost of the development budget. “Development projects have been affected as the vehicles meant for monitoring the projects are being used for ministers´ visit,” said Local Development Officer Kedar Nath Sharma. The officials claimed that they receive demand for vehicles from political party leaders and government ministers almost everyday.
Though the government has dropped the provision requiring chief district officers to necessarily present themselves to welcome the ministers, government officials in the district are yet to heave a sigh of relief.
“We are still compelled to arrange vehicles and residence for the visiting ministers,” said an official. Sikta Irrigation Project, Water-induced Disaster Control office, Road of Department, Women Development office, Inland Revenue office, Irrigation office, and Forest Department, among others, have overspent amount allocated to them for fuels.
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