CHENNAI: State BJP president K Annamalai on Monday alleged gross misutilisation of funds allocated for the Chief Minister’s Rural Roads Development Programmes.

“Erstwhile known as the Prime Minister’s Rural Roads Development Scheme, it was initiated by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to provide connectivity to rural areas,” he said, slamming that the DMK has made a mockery of its implementation, leaving out funds unutilised. Alluding to the Government Order (GO) issued on March 18, 2023, which purportedly allocated Rs 2,300 crore for the year 2022-2023, the saffron party leader questioned whether the funds were fully utilised or not.

The BJP leader questioned the government’s intent, asking where the funds had been utilised and said the DMK government was making “empty announcements” to deceive people. “The incumbent’s propensity for renaming central government schemes is well-known, but what is appalling is the lack of transparency in the utilisation,” Annamalai said in a statement.

A person who suffered cardiac arrest could not be saved because of the lack of proper road facilities at Nellithurai, a village near Mettupalayam in the Coimbatore district, the saffron party leader accused. The historic failure of the Chief Minister’s Rural Roads Development Scheme is the reason behind such incidents. “Despite allocating Rs 2,300 crore, the government has failed to provide even basic road link to rural areas,” accused Annamalai.

“The video of the deceased being carried on a dolly is a grim reminder of the government’s apathy towards the welfare of rural communities,” he said. The BJP leader said that the Centre had allocated enough funds for building roads.