Purandar: Model school building funds worth lakhs allegedly misappropriated

A zilla parishad primary school in Sonori village of Purandar taluka was selected under the state government's model school scheme. Following the selection, funds of one crore rupees were sanctioned for construction of the school building. Villagers of Sonori have alleged that the contractor, in collusion with officials of the construction department, built only two classrooms on the existing school building and diverted lakhs of rupees meant for the work.

Under the model school scheme, new construction is being carried out to provide physical facilities and give the school a better appearance. Two classrooms were sanctioned, and development of the school premises was also included. Funds of 48,36,988 rupees were sanctioned for construction of the classrooms, and 30,51,291 rupees for repair of the school.

The zilla parishad had awarded this work to contractor Sudhir Katore. Katore gave the same work as a sub-contract to Nitin Kale, a local contractor from Sonori, according to Santosh Nalawade, deputy engineer of the construction department of the panchayat samiti.

Two years ago, various companies had already built a full, good-quality building for the school in Sonori through their CSR funds. This included a boundary wall, painting and a separate toilet block, so the school's needs had already been met. However, RPI (Athawale) Purandar taluka president Baliram Sonawane has made a sensational allegation that contractor Nitin Kale, with the help of officials of the construction department in the panchayat samiti, built two rooms on the upper floor of the same school building that had been constructed three to four years earlier, and diverted as much as 48 lakh rupees meant for the work in exchange for those two rooms.

In reality, the school building was constructed three to four years ago, with flooring, waterproofing, painting, windows, doors and a stage already completed. Expenditure of 30,51,291 rupees has now been shown for minor work on top of this, including a staircase, iron grills, steel railing on the boundary wall and a tin sheet on the stage. Baliram Sonawane said that both classrooms and all the other work together would have needed no more than 15 to 20 lakh rupees at most, but expenditure of as much as 80 lakh rupees has been shown, indicating large-scale corruption.

A total of 1.02 crore rupees had been sanctioned for the school's construction. Of this, nearly 30 percent, or 20 lakh rupees, was deducted in various taxes. Work worth 78 to 80 lakh rupees has been shown as actually completed. So far, 22 lakh rupees have been paid to the contractor, and a completion certificate has not yet been issued. Santosh Nalawade, deputy engineer of the construction department of Purandar panchayat samiti, said the remaining amount would be paid after the work is inspected and found complete.

Speaking on the matter, Baliram Sonawane said the work actually done was worth only 15 to 20 lakh rupees, and the remaining amount had been misappropriated. He alleged that officials had already paid the contractor the full amount for the work, and that the completion certificate had likely been withheld only to mislead people. He also said officials and the contractor were not giving full information and were instead speaking in a high-handed manner. A memorandum has been submitted to the zilla parishad's chief executive officer and the district collector seeking action, and Sonawane has warned of a protest in front of the collector's office if no action is taken.