Old well painted and passed off as new, alleges Sena (UBT) leader in Aronda

Sawantwadi: A dedication ceremony held under the Jal Jeevan Mission at Aronda on Gandhi Jayanti has run into controversy. Rupesh Raul, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief for the Sawantwadi assembly constituency, alleged at a press conference that instead of a new well being built, an old one was painted and presented as new, and that ₹10-15 lakh had been misappropriated.

According to Raul, a well was built for Aronda-Jadhavwadi in 2009 at a cost of ₹9 lakh under the Yashwant Gram Samruddhi Yojana. A new well was expected under the Jal Jeevan Mission, but the same old well was painted and dedicated instead, he alleged, asking, "Where did the new well go?"

Former deputy sarpanch Aba Kerkar and some other local representatives had already raised objections to the event, Raul said, but it went ahead in the presence of Zilla Parishad office-bearers without taking villagers and gram panchayat members into confidence.

A written complaint has been submitted to the block development officer. Raul demanded action against the officials, office-bearers and contractors responsible and the suspension of the officials concerned. Sena (UBT) taluka chief Raju Shetkar and other office-bearers attended the press conference.

Source: Pudhari