SIT to probe how 600 cycles went missing

The Haryana government is planning to form a special investigation team to inquire over the 600 bicycles that were bought by Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) in 2015 that have now gone missing.

The step by the government comes after a RTI activist Assem Takyar approached the state lokayukta to know about the detail of the bicycles that were purchased by the civic body for the sum of Rs 34 lakh for the Raahgiri event two years ago in 2015. There has been no word as yet that when the team will begin its investigation.

In its application, there was no record that was maintained by the public body on how the bicycles were later dispensed.

According to sources, around 130 cycles were distributed to poor children, however, there is no written record on the rest of the bicycles. This is not for the first time when questions have been raised over non transparency of the civic body in the utility of public funds.

"There must be accountability of the money that is spent by the public officials because ultimately this is public money. The lack of transparency only will result in the citizen not trusting their public official. Today the amount ranges in lakhs, tomorrow it may be a much greater amount," said Takyar.

"In times, when the civic body is receiving a lot of flak over lack of infrastructure in the city, these funds if used judiciously could have been utilised in the effective development of city," he said.

Started in 2013, the Raahgiri event where public agencies in collaboration with the citizens used to make the stretch around Galleria near DLF Phase-4, a no vehicle zone during Sundays.

While the event is still being observed in the city over the years, the popularity of the event has reduced.