A solar street lamp in Motihari. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, Aug. 4: The district administration has issued orders to sue 14 mukhiyas (village heads) of different panchayats under Patahi block for misappropriating public money to purchase sub-standard solar lights for their respec- tive areas.

The Tirhut divisional commissioner, S.M. Raju, had ordered the Pakridayal sub-divisional magistrate a few months ago to conduct an inquiry into the alleged irregularities and lodge criminal cases against the errant mukhiyas for their alleged involvement in the purchase of sub-standard solar lights, misappropriating several lakhs of public money.

Raju had come to visit a vikas (welfare) camp arranged by the district administration in Padumker panchayat.

Confirming the financial irregularities detected at Patahi block, Raju said the villagers had complained to him regarding the sub-standard solar lights during his visit to a vikas camp in Padumker panchayat around May.

Once informed about the anomalies, Raju said he instantly entrusted the sub-divisional magistrate, Sanjay Kumar Verma, to conduct the inquiry into the matter.

However, the commissioner’s order remained in the bay for the next few months till Raju again visited Patahi block for a programme in July.

The residents again put forward their grievance of the faulty solar lights before Raju when he came to the block for a programme organised by Bihar Child Rights Protection Commission on July 25.

Raju once again entrusted the sub-divisional magistrate with conducting the inquiry.

During his inquiry, the 14 mukhiyas, along with the secretaries of panchayats concerned, were found guilty of disobeying the state’s directives and misappropriating government fund by purchasing sub-standard solar light equipment after they failed to produce the necessary papers within the stipulated period.

Sub-divisional magistrate Verma said he ordered the Patahi block development officer, Shashi Kumar Sinha, to institute FIRs against 14 mukhiyas, the panchayat secretaries and suppliers of the sub-standard equipment.