Graft finger at hill board (Khambu Board)

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 03 Feb 2019, Darjeeling: Two women have accused the West Bengal Khambu Rai Development Board of taking back money given to them by the state government under a housing scheme and not building their homes.

Manju Rai, a TMC supporter, has alleged that a cheque of Rs 1 lakh had been handed over to her by chief minister Mamata Banerjee in Darjeeling on September 5, 2018. Later, she alleged, some board members asked her to give them the money to build her home.

Another beneficiary, Bandana Rai, has alleged that the board had asked her to hand it Rs 1.05 lakh that had been credited to her account in June 2017. The Rais are residents of Darjeeling.

The government has formed 16 development boards for various hill communities and in the past similar complaints against two other boards had surfaced. The boards construct houses for their community members at a cost of Rs 2 lakh.

Deep Raj Rai, the chairman of the Rai board, did not take calls on his cellphone.

TMC leader Milan Dukpa has threatened to complain to Mamata if the construction is not started in a week.