A group of people from Ngatshang Gewog in Monggar is accusing the Ngatshang Tshogpa of misusing public resources and fund embezzlement. The tshogpa was allegedly involved in the corrupt practices in two separate instances of irrigation channel maintenance and farm road construction works.
The group of complainants had carried out the maintenance works of an irrigation channel at Shingtharing in the 2017-18 fiscal year. During this time, they said, the Ngatshang Tshogpa misused 10 cement bags from the allocated lot.
They added, the gewog office initially informed them the work was worth Nu 100,000. But the group claimed of receiving materials worth Nu 52,000 only.
“The dzongkhag administration supplied 40 bags of cement but we received only 30 bags. We unloaded the cement bags at our tshogpa’s place. During that time, he said 10 bags of cement were for him. So we took only 30 bags for the maintenance work,” Tashi Delek from Shingtharing said.
He said the maintenance of the channel had to be left incomplete due to cement shortage. According to him, the tshogpa was informed of the additional requirement of cement. To this, he turned a deaf ear. The gewog administration was also notified but to no avail.
“The gewog office is now agreeing to provide the remaining 10 bags if there are any incomplete works. But we said we don’t need it now. Had they supplied it while the work was ongoing then the maintenance would have been completed. I don’t think it is appropriate on our part to take those cement bags after raising the issue.”
The Ngatshang Tshogpa is also accused of embezzling Nu 37,000 collected from seven households in the chiwog.
“When Gewog hired a machine to construct farm roads, some farmers hired it to clear roads till their houses. So, the tshogpa and the machine operator collected money from those households. We are doubtful where that money has gone?” Tashi Delek said.
The Ngatshang Tshogpa denied the allegations. He reasoned that all 40 bags of cement were not issued at once since the Gup had informed him to supply it whenever required. Regarding the money collected for the machine, it was to pay the operator for overtime. The tshogpa said the concerned households used the machine for their own purpose and it was not an official work.
For now, upon the directive from the dzongkhag administration, the Ngatshang gewog administration’s legal committee is expected to look into the matter soon.
