FATEHGARH SAHIB: Ranjit Singh Brahampura, Minister for Rural Development and Panchyats said that the state government has suspended around 250 Sarpanches of the state so far in various cases.

He said that previous Congress government had distributed grants of Rs 1,400 crore under Punjab Nirman Scheme and the present government has received various complaints of mis-utilisation or embezzlement of grants. He said that after receiving complaints, the state government initiated probe and suspended around 250 Sarpanches of Punjab while inquiry is still pending in many cases. 

He said that the state government is taking reports of embezzlements in grants seriously and the registration of criminal cases will be recommended against those panchayats, which will be found of embezzling grants of over Rs 1 lakh. He said that experts of flying squads conducting probe in serious cases and no guilty would be spared.

He said that teams would be even constituted as sub division level.

Telling about the achievement of the state government, the minister said that the government has released grant of Rs 100 crore for rural development.

He said that state government is seriously considering conferring the Magistrate powers to Block Development and Panchyat Officers of the state. He said that now the matter is with CM Parkash Singh Badal.

He said that now Panchyats will not distribute pensions of Social Security Department and it would directly go to bank account of the beneficiaries.