RAUTAHAT: An investigation committee formed to look into misappropriation in development projects executed during last fiscal year in the district has reported of wide spread corruption in public projects.

Moreover, the report asserts that the municipality governed by local representatives who had sold promises of self-sustenance and sanitation, among others, to win public votes has failed to walk the talk.

“Majority of the projects lack quality materials and work, and inflated bills were forwarded by local authorities for payment. Moreover, payments were also released for projects that were never initiated,” the committee reported.

As per the report, local representatives misappropriated funds allocated for majority of 1,000 small and large scale projects and spent public money for works that were never executed. Moreover, the authorities also failed to make public financial statements on revenue and expenses.

The committee scrutinised works of many projects, including road gravelling, UNICEF’s Girl Education Programme, water source conservation project and found irregularities in majority of them.

A five-member-committee was formed to probe into irregularities after disputes related to expenses incurred during execution of public projects by Chandrapur Municipality surfaced.