After dismissing three village panchayat presidents for causing revenue loss to the government, District Collector M. Karunakaran has slapped hefty fine on eight village panchayat presidents for the same reason.
He has also debarred two more panchayat presidents from contesting elections in the future.
According to Dr. Karunakaran, G. Poosaipandian, president of Thalaivankottai panchayat under Vasudevanallur union, had caused a revenue loss of Rs. 5.46 lakh to the government by creating fake bills and giving plan approval for new buildings by violating the norms.
Hence, this loss would be collected from the erring panchayat president as fine.
Similarly, the Collector has slapped a fine of Rs. 11.75 lakh on U. Baby Saroja, president of Neduvayal panchayat, Rs. 82,875 on Pattaadaikatti panchayat president A. Rajadurai and Rs. 8.84 lakh on Sernthamaram Kaspa panchayat president M. Visuvaasam for having inflicted loss to their local bodies through “unlawful expenditure”.
The Therkkupatti panchayat president S. Murugan is facing a fine of Rs. 24.57 lakh for his involvement in the irregularities in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.
Dr. Karunakaran has imposed a fine of Rs. 28.63 lakh on South Valliyoor panchayat president P. Inba Thangaraj for granting plan approval for constructing commercial complexes without the consent of Local Planning Authority.
The Collector has also ordered the officials concerned to collect fine from V. Manickam, president of Devanallur panchayat and Perumalpatti panchayat president R. Kalaiselvi for having caused revenue loss to the government through “unlawful expenditures” and by giving approval to unapproved layouts.
“Following comprehensive enquiries conducted by competent authorities, the fine has been slapped on the erring village panchayat heads,” Dr. Karunakaran said.
After the enquiry conducted by the Collector led to the detection of revenue loss caused by R. Arputharaj of Naranapuram panchayat and V. Vijayalakshimi of Thanakkarkulam panchayat, they have paid the loss incurred by them to the local bodies concerned.
“Hence, Arputharaj and Vijayalakshmi have been barred from contesting local body polls in future,” Dr. Karunakaran said.
