For the current fiscal year, DADO signed agreements with several community-based organizations and local users groups to undertake 31 different large and small projects under Food Security Program in the district around three months ago.
Two weeks ago, a district-level monitoring committee decided to observe the progress of some projects implemented by both non-government and government agencies. But when the monitoring team sought the list of projects, DADO failed to provide the list.
Upon the team's return, their monitoring report included no record of the projects found during their visit.DADO had provided Rs 3 million in total to the 31 projects it had approved. But the monitoring team neither found the project nor the community groups implementing them.
Surprisingly, representatives of some community groups still approach the DADO seeking payments. Although district development coordination committee had decided to make payments only after proper verification, DADO has started to settle the due amounts without monitoring.
DADO Chief Chet Narayan Pandey acknowledged that the office could not submit any details on the projects sanctioned by the agency to the monitoring committee.
As per the existing provision, development projects funded by government have to be settled five days prior to the end of fiscal year, beyond which the budget gets frozen. Fearing budget freeze, the DADO has started to release funds for the projects even if they are not complete, an official from DADO said on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, Ramsurath Pal, Agriculture Processing Officer of DADO, informed that the staffers of many implementing organizations in the eastern part of the district have left for collecting yarsagumba, which might have affected the timely completion of projects.
Related story
Paddy production in Sindhuli to go up 10%: DADO
