Accusing the Gewog Administration and Tshogpa of corrupt practices, some 24 households of Phulingsum chiwog in Guma Gewog in Punakha lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission today. They accused the officials of misuse of power and lack of transparency.
The residents of Phulingsum came to Thimphu all the way from their village in Punakha. They accused the officials on eight grounds. According to them, their Tshogpa along with the Gewog Administrative Officer and the Gup do not discuss developmental works with them. In one incident, the Tshogpa allegedly diverted the construction of a farm road from the planned alignment whereby the road benefitted only his relatives.
The Tshogpa is also accused of keeping electric fencing poles to himself and distributing the rest to those people he favoured. The chiwog reportedly received the fencing poles from the government this year.
They said a complaint was lodged with the district administration which was then referred to the District Dispute Committee. But they said that they didn’t get a copy of the findings until they visited the district administration.
Unsatisfied with the committee’s findings, the villagers approached the Anti-Corruption Commission.
“We submitted the statements to the District Dispute Committee but the findings stated that the Tshogpa was innocent which means we were at fault. We are not satisfied and appealing Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation,” said Tshering Gyeltshen, one of the complainants.
According to the Dzongda, the District Dispute Committee issued the findings upon working on the matter.
“Be it road or other facilities, the Tshogpa diverted it to places where only he is benefitted and we the public are not benefitted,” added another complainant, Kinely Zam.
Meanwhile, the Tshogpa says the villagers’ appeal to the ACC was not necessary as the issue was already investigated by the district administration.
The Gup said he respects the decision of the District Dispute Committee and that he has no comments.
The villagers said the Anti-Corruption Commission officials informed them that the officials will discuss and decide if the accusation qualifies for investigation. BBS tried to contact the ACC officials.
Ngawang Tenzin
Edited by Tshering Zam
