April 12, 2008	Saturday	Rabi-us-Sani 5, 1429

KHANEWAL, April 11: Ghost Citizen Community Boards (CCBs) have allegedly misused millions they received from the district government in 2006, Dawn has learnt.

Governmental plans to carry out development projects through CCBs have been failed due to poor management, weak monitoring mechanism, improper scrutiny and political influences.

Sources claimed the Taj Mehal CCB from Faisal Colony, Kabirwala, got a home industry project approved from the Community Development Department (CDD) on Nov 23, 2206. Up to Rs296,779 were released for the project but the sum was misappropriated and project was never launched.

Similarly, the Margala CCB, based at Elahi Bukhsh Colony, Mianchannu, got a home industry project worth Rs226,984 approved from the CDD on Nov 11, 2006, but the funds received from the district government were embezzled.

The Bahawalpur CCB in mauza Bahawalpur, Kabirwala, also embezzled Rs284,605 meant for a craft centre on Nov 21, 2006.

Another CCB, Piam, based at 95/10-R of Jahanian, misused Rs296,779 which were released on Nov 23, 2006, for a craft centre.

Sources said the CDD did not take any action against ghost CCBs but it came hard on those CCBs who had failed to carry out projects successfully. Source said the department confiscated the record and office items of Sir Sayyed CCB and Iqra CCB for their failure to execute the projects successfully.

Community Development Executive District Officer Aamir Saleemi said they did not have an affective monitoring system to check CCBs involved in the misuse of funds because the procedure mentioned in the Local Government Ordinance (CCB Rules-10) were complex and took a lot of time to complete the task. He said Social Welfare Department rules stated that an inquiry officer be appointed to probe into complaints against CCBs. The inquiry officer will prepare a resolution to be presented to the house (district council session). If the house recommended any action against the CCB, a civil suit is initiated against the CCB.

When asked what action was taken against the CCBs that had completely misappropriated funds, Saleemi said: “We have a list of such CCBs and we will take action against these CCBs.”