Punjab Newsline | Mandi

Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut came down heavily on officials during a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA), expressing strong displeasure over delays and poor implementation of development projects in her parliamentary constituency.

Chairing the meeting, Ranaut said valuable time was being wasted by repeatedly discussing the same issues without seeing any concrete action. She pointed out that during the previous meeting, similar concerns had been raised, but little progress appeared to have been made.

Ranaut said that of the ₹11 crore released over a two-year period up to March-April, not even ₹1 crore had been utilised. She said the ministry had to repeatedly send letters to the concerned authorities regarding the issue.

“Many people have taken the money, while many others are sitting on it without starting the work,” Ranaut said, alleging that signatures had also been obtained on false NOCs.

She called for strict action against those responsible, including blacklisting defaulters and imposing penalties. According to Ranaut, around 30 to 40 per cent of the funds were lying with defaulters.

The MP also criticised officials for repeatedly giving what she described as “empty assurances” during DISHA meetings.

“Do not give unnecessary excuses. I have been hearing the same statements in every DISHA meeting. Statements alone will not get the work done,” she said.

Ranaut made it clear that DISHA meetings should not remain a mere paper formality. Expressing deep dissatisfaction over the lack of progress on decisions and suggestions made in earlier meetings, she said development schemes must move from files to the ground if people’s problems are to be resolved.

Her sharp remarks were evident throughout the meeting. “The same suggestions are being repeated again and again, but there is no implementation. Why is everyone’s time being wasted?” she questioned, even asking responsible officials to stand up.

The MP also questioned the delay in development projects despite the availability of central funds, particularly projects stuck due to land acquisition, permissions and NOCs.

She directed officials to prepare separate lists of projects based on their current stage of progress. She also called for a time-bound action plan for every pending case, clearly specifying the stage at which each project was stalled and the steps required to move it forward.

Ranaut warned that the development work in the Mandi parliamentary constituency was being watched closely across the country and that departmental negligence should not send a negative message.

She said merely issuing instructions to return funds would not be enough. “Until the money is actually returned to the government account, the work will be considered incomplete,” she said.

MP further warned that officials responsible for negligence would have their reports sent to higher authorities. She stressed that the administration must now deliver visible results on the ground instead of relying on repeated assurances.