GUJRANWALA, July 12: The citizen community boards (CCBs) could not use Rs743 million during the last several years because of a lack of awareness among people about the objectives of CCBs and their inability to contribute 20 percent of the total cost of any development project.

According to a report gleaned by Dawn, the district government allocated Rs81.188 million in 2002-03, Rs101.60 million in 2003-04, Rs50.23 million in 2004-05, Rs10.8 million in 2005-06, Rs160 million in 2006-07 and Rs290 million in 2007-08 for CCBs.

About 122 CCBs were registered in the district in 2002-03 and 2003-04, which presented six development projects and deposited their 20 per cent share. Later, they could not complete their projects in the stipulated period. In 2004-05, 143 CCBs completed seven development schemes at a cost of Rs5.5 million. In 2005-06, 193 CCBs tabled 30 development schemes, but completed only five of them at a cost of Rs15 million.

In 2006-07, the number of CCBs reduced from 193 to 173. These CCBs tabled 38 development projects and completed 30 of them at a cost of Rs30.87 million. Later, the number of CCBs rose to 660.

By the end of 2006-07, CCBs had Rs452.387 million unused. Later, the district government allocated Rs290 million for CCBs in its 2007-08 budget. So currently CCBs have Rs743.089 million unused.

Dawn has learnt that some landowners and people running private hospitals and schools have benefited from these funds for CCBs and there is no chance of proper use of these funds in the near future.

Executive District Officer (Community Development) Mian Muhammad Naeem said people were unaware of the use of funds through CCBs.

He said several people got their CCBs registered, but failed to deposit their 20 per cent share.