Corruption allegations over ‘public toilet’ in Purulia; Central fund diverted for rest area

In Jhujka village, located in Purulia’s Arsha block, a central government-funded public toilet project has come under scrutiny after the completed structure was turned into a rest area instead. The ₹1.5 lakh allocated for the construction of a public toilet has been diverted to build a facility with benches for resting, but no toilet amenities are present. This change in purpose has raised questions about the proper use of government funds meant for public sanitation.

The land where the structure was built belongs to Budhan Mahato, a local resident. Mahato, a supporter of the Trinamool Congress, granted permission for the construction of the facility. He claims that local Trinamool leader Malloy Kumar approached him to build a "rest room" on his land, which Mahato allowed. According to Mahato, the project was intended to be a resting place from the beginning. The facility was constructed on a small portion of Mahato's land by the side of the Purulia-Arsha state road, with benches installed inside for villagers to sit and rest.

Originally, the project was meant to provide a public toilet for villagers in an area with limited sanitation options. However, after its completion, it was found that the structure contained no toilet stalls, only benches, contradicting the original purpose. Local residents had expected a facility that would help address sanitation issues in the region, where public toilets are scarce. The alteration of the project has led to concerns that funds allocated for public sanitation were used for a different purpose.

BJP district president Vivek Ranga criticized the project, accusing local Trinamool Congress leaders of misusing public funds. Ranga expressed that taxpayers’ money was being diverted, and the original purpose of the project—to provide toilets for villagers—had not been fulfilled. He further claimed that this case reflected a broader pattern of corruption and mismanagement of public resources in the region.

In response to the controversy, Debangana Kumar, the head of the Heshla Gram Panchayat, defended the change in the facility’s purpose. Kumar explained that villagers had opposed the construction of a public toilet and instead requested a rest area. According to Kumar, the decision to build a rest area was made based on local demands, and the project was modified accordingly. The facility was designed to accommodate the needs of the community, who preferred a space for resting rather than sanitation facilities.