Shopian residents seek probe into alleged alteration of Gram Sabha-approved CAPEX plans
Shopian: Residents from several areas of Shopian district have raised serious concerns over alleged unauthorized changes made to Gram Sabha-approved Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) plans in multiple blocks, urging the district administration to investigate the matter and ensure that development priorities identified by local communities are respected.
In a representation addressed to the Deputy Commissioner Shopian, inhabitants of Blocks Zainapora, Chitragam, Imam Sahib, Hermain, Kaprin and Kanjiullar alleged that development works finalized through the Gram Sabha process were altered at a later stage without the knowledge, consultation, or consent of the local population.
According to the residents, the CAPEX plans were originally formulated after discussions at the village level and were approved through Gram Sabha resolutions. These plans, they said, reflected the pressing developmental needs of the communities and were recommended by local representatives, including Auqaf members, Numberdars and other stakeholders.
However, the residents claimed that several works prioritized by Gram Sabhas were subsequently changed, while a number of individual-beneficiary works were allegedly incorporated into the plans in place of community-oriented development projects.
The inhabitants expressed concern that such modifications undermine the essence of participatory governance and decentralized planning, which are intended to empower local communities in determining development priorities.
“Development plans approved through Gram Sabhas represent the collective aspirations and requirements of the people. Any alteration without public consultation defeats the purpose of grassroots planning and weakens public trust in the system,” the residents stated in their representation.
They maintained that the Gram Sabha mechanism was established to ensure transparency, accountability and community participation in the planning process. Any deviation from approved resolutions, they argued, compromises the sanctity of the process and may deprive communities of much-needed infrastructure and public utility projects.
The residents further said that community-centric works identified through public consultations should be implemented in their original spirit and form, as approved by the Gram Sabhas, rather than being replaced by projects that do not reflect collective priorities.
Seeking immediate intervention from the district administration, the inhabitants urged the Deputy Commissioner to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged changes, ascertain the circumstances under which the modifications were made, and identify those responsible, if any irregularities are found.
“We request the administration to verify whether the final CAPEX plans correspond with the resolutions passed by the Gram Sabhas and to take corrective measures wherever deviations have occurred,” the residents said.
They also called upon the authorities to ensure that future planning exercises remain transparent and that any revisions to approved development plans are carried out only after due consultation with the concerned communities.
The residents expressed hope that the district administration would take prompt action in the larger public interest and uphold the principles of participatory development by ensuring that public funds are utilized in accordance with the priorities identified by the people themselves.
