MP: NHRC questions Tourism Dept over public money spent on temple railing

Bhopal, Aug 20 (IANS) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo has raised serious questions about the use of public funds to install a railing near the Baadh Wale Ganesh Temple, tagging the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Department in a strongly worded post on X.

In his post, Kanoongo asked whether the Tourism Department had been checked in connection with the railing, which was reportedly installed using taxpayers’ money.

Sharing a photograph of the structure, he wrote that officials should step out of their air‑conditioned offices and do real work by finding out who constructed the property, under whose authority, and how much of taxpayers’ money was spent on it.

He stressed that public money is earned through the hard work of ordinary citizens and deserves accountability, not excuses.

The remarks come amid reports of a complaint regarding the alleged theft of the same railing. City Superintendent of Police Atul Singh clarified the matter, stating that a complaint about the theft of the railing attached to the Baadh Wale Ganesh Temple had been received through the Superintendent of Police for investigation.

The complainant claimed the railing had been stolen. However, upon verification, the officer confirmed that the railing is still installed at the site.

Local authorities and the Tourism Department are yet to issue a detailed response to the specific queries raised by the NHRC member.

The matter has drawn attention to the broader issue of ensuring that funds collected from citizens through taxes are spent with full transparency and justification.

Further developments are expected as the police investigation into the original complaint concludes, but an official clarification on the railing’s funding and construction is awaited.

–IANS

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