Malda, May 19: Election results are out and the model code of conduct is no longer in force, but the Malda zilla parishad is still unable to start development work.

Sabina Yasmin, the Congress’s zilla parishad sabhadhipati, has blamed the district magistrate for not being able to find time to attend a meeting to finalise the schemes. “He has told us that he cannot spare time before May 28.

The state panchayat secretary, Manabendranath Roy, who was in Malda on May 6, told me that the voting in north Bengal was over on April 30 and we could start the process,” she said.

The sabhadhipati said the district planning committee was yet to be constituted ever since last year’s panchayat elections. She had contacted the district magistrate to convene the meeting to set up the DPC. “We will hold the meeting on May 29. There is Rs 49.7 crore lying unused under various developmental heads and ever since I took charge, I have not been able to do anything,” Yasmin said.

In fact, the Congress-led zilla parishad was caught red-faced when Rahul Gandhi, during his election rally here, blamed those in power for the non-implementation of central schemes like the Indira Awas Yojana in the district.

The district magistrate of Malda, Sridhar Ghosh, however, said he was yet to be informed about the May 29 meeting. “I have never instructed the zilla parishad that they cannot hold meeting without me. I took charge in November and on November 23 the Sujapur Assembly byelection was announced. I was busy with the polls till January 10.”

He said he had told the zilla parishad to form the DPC in February as the general election announcement was imminent but his words were not heeded.