A fresh controversy has erupted in Kancheepuram district after a pond was dug inside the Vegavathi river in Muthiyalpet panchayat, under the Walajabad panchayat union. The work is said to have been taken up under the Centre’s rural job guarantee programme, recently renamed as the ‘Viksit Bharat Rural Livelihood and Employment Guarantee Act’.
Though the scheme’s workdays have been raised from 100 to 125 and state funding contributions increased, allegations of irregularities continue to surface in several places. Complaints include using heavy machinery for works meant to be done through manual labour, marking attendance without actual work, and digging ponds in locations without proper approvals.
According to local social activist M. Kannan from Aerivai village, digging ponds repeatedly in flood-prone stretches amounts to wasting public money. He pointed out that a pond was dug in the same river area in 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs 9.65 lakh, but it has since been largely damaged due to poor planning and the river’s natural flow.
Panchayat officials said the pond was dug to provide employment to villagers and that only earthwork has been completed so far. They added that funds for further works such as bund formation have not yet been received, and the timeline remains unclear.
When contacted, the Block Development Officer said the site would be inspected and discussed with the concerned engineers. If any rule violations are found, appropriate action will be taken, the official said.
