Panchayat Projects Under Scanner: Call for Digital Tracking to Prevent Duplication and Ensure Transparency

As development work accelerates across Himachal Pradesh’s villages under nearly 18 Central and state government schemes, concerns are growing over the possibility of the same project being funded more than once. The issue surfaced prominently in the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, where Chopal BJP MLA Balbir Verma urged the government to introduce a comprehensive digital monitoring system for all panchayat-level development works.

During Question Hour, Verma highlighted that projects such as water storage tanks and other rural infrastructure works are often being carried out under multiple schemes simultaneously. He warned that without a unified method of tracking these projects, there is a risk that the same work could be shown under different schemes, leading to duplication and potential misuse of public funds.

To improve transparency and accountability, the legislator proposed that every development project should have an online record. According to him, details should include photographs of ongoing and completed works, GPS coordinates, and precise information about the project’s location and purpose. Such a system would create a permanent digital footprint for each project, making it easier for officials and citizens alike to verify whether a particular work has already been sanctioned or executed elsewhere.

Verma also drew attention to concerns about the quality of certain development works. He cited instances where newly constructed water storage tanks reportedly developed leaks shortly after completion, raising questions about construction standards and oversight at the grassroots level.

Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured the Assembly that the government would look into any specific complaints. He asked the MLA to provide details of the panchayats and projects where irregularities were suspected, promising an impartial investigation once the information is submitted.

Verma said he would furnish the relevant details to the Chief Minister in writing.

The discussion has reignited a broader debate on how rural development projects are monitored and audited when multiple schemes operate simultaneously. Many believe that a centralised digital tracking platform, integrating project photographs, GPS mapping and location-wise records, could play a key role in preventing duplication, improving oversight and ensuring that public funds are utilised effectively for the benefit of local communities.