Raijor Dal has alleged serious financial irregularities in the Assam Public Works Department (PWD), accusing it of misusing public funds to the tune of Rs 8.84 crore under the pretext of organizing a cultural programme titled ‘Jhumoir Binandini’. The party’s president and Sivasagar MLA, Akhil Gogoi, made the allegations at a press conference held in Guwahati on Friday, July 25.
Gogoi said that documents acquired through the Right to Information (RTI) Act showed unusually high expenses for a single-day event organised on March 23, 2023, in Bongaigaon. “A total of Rs 8.84 crore was spent. One contractor alone was paid over Rs 3.86 crore, and nearly Rs 5 crore was claimed as expenditure on logistics and materials,” he said.
What raised further suspicion, Gogoi noted, was that the Public Works Department—ordinarily tasked with construction and infrastructure projects—was made the implementing agency for a cultural function. “This is highly irregular. Cultural programmes are the responsibility of the Cultural Affairs Department, not the PWD. It seems like a pre-planned effort to divert funds,” he alleged.
According to Gogoi, the financial clearances and disbursements were processed rapidly, without transparency or competitive bidding. “There is no documentation to show how this money was spent. No audit, no footage, no public report—nothing,” he said.
Gogoi warned that if the government fails to act, Raijor Dal will launch a mass protest across Assam. “This scandal is not just about money; it’s about how deeply corruption is embedded in governance. The people of Assam deserve to know where their tax money is going,” he said.
The party has submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Assam demanding an impartial investigation and strict action against officials found guilty of fund misappropriation.
So far, the PWD has not issued any public response to the allegations.
