Balera panchayat pradhan suspended over irregularities in development works

The district authorities in Chamba have suspended pradhan of Balera gram panchayat in the Bhattiyat block after large-scale irregularities were found in various development works, including projects under MGNREGA. The District Panchayat Officer issued the suspension order under powers granted by the Panchayati Raj Act. The suspended pradhan has also been instructed to hand over all panchayat-related property and documents to the panchayat secretary.

The corruption was first brought to light by local youth and advocate Pankaj Palbhar, who persistently raised the issue with the administration. Despite repeated complaints, no action was initially taken, prompting Pankaj to sit on a hunger strike outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office for two weeks. When even that failed to trigger a response, he submitted a written complaint directly to the Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Shiv Pratap Shukla, during the latter’s visit to Chamba. The pradhan was suspended following an investigation, the very next day.

In his complaint, Pankaj accused the panchayat head of forging attendance records of outsourced staff posted at the Dalhousie Civil Hospital. Recovery was later made from the pradhan in this matter. He also alleged that the pradhan had made his own nephew the sole vendor for panchayat projects, who was paid nearly Rs 64 lakh and had also faked attendance in MGNREGA records. Additionally, it was claimed that the pradhan, who is also a government contractor, was unlawfully awarded contracts in his own name during his tenure, bypassing legal norms and forest clearance regulations.

Pankaj fought this battle against corruption single-handedly. Even though the administration failed to respond at first, his relentless efforts finally bore fruit. During his hunger strike, he received support from RTI activists, and a video of a confrontation involving him and a woman also went viral on social media. Ultimately, the government was compelled to act on his serious allegations.

Confirming the suspension, District Panchayat Officer OP Thakur said the panchayat head was found guilty of serious lapses in the execution of development works and has been ordered to transfer all official records and assets to the panchayat secretary immediately.

Himachal Tribune