Malda, March 7 :     With a tidal wave of fake relief claims, the Malda district administration is at a loss to decide how to distribute the Rs 34 crore earmarked by the state government for repair of houses damaged in last September?s devastating floods. To screen false cases, district magistrate M.V. Rao had asked the gram panchayats to print and circulate lists of damaged houses so that Opposition political parties could come up with their versions and contest suspect claims. But about half the panchayats have failed so far to comply. District sabhadhipati Sephali Khatoon admits that fakes did find their way into the lists of flood-affected property owners. ?So, in order to stop squandering of funds, we decided on public circulation of the lists,? she said. But while 73 panchayats have submitted printed lists of damaged houses, 74 are yet to submit theirs, says Rao. District officials said the 73 panchayats have been given Rs 16 crore as assistance towards flood-damaged houses. ?But, the financial year ends on March 31 and the money will have to be returned if it can?t be spent,? one of them said. The people of Malda are predictably irked over the authorities? ?lack of concern? and absence of concrete measure to prevent floods or erosion along the Ganga. Though a tender was floated for repair of embankments at Manickchak, with the administration failing to provide the necessary land, the irrigation department has not yet been able to start work. The department is also stuck with projects for an embankment and a spur at Panchanandapur and Bhutni under similar circumstances. Officials say it is unlikely that the required land would be acquired by March. ?After acquisition, embankments will take at least three months of construction time. The greater the delay, the closer we are to the monsoon,? an irrigation official said.