Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Mar 23: The construction work on the Mini-Secretariat, at Mendhar in district Poonch has been abandoned for the last about eight years.
The Public Works Department (PW/R&B) undertook the work of construction of Mini Secretariat Complex in Mendhar during 2011 with the cost of Rs 14 crore, but even after almost eight years, the complex has yet to see its completion. Though initially, the work went off well but later, the contractor had to abandoned the work for the reason best known to the people at the helm of affairs.
Locals lamented that despite lapse of eight years, the complex has not been completed due to incompetence of the concerned department and negligent attitude of the successive Governments which have doled a step motherly treatment towards the people of Mendhar.
Residents of Mendhar said that Government needs to expedite the work on this project keeping in view the problems of the people of this border area.
They alleged Mendhar has been ignored from developmental point of view and such a delay in Government Project is an indicator to substantiate that people in Mendhar are continuously witnessing step- motherly treatment at the hands of State authorities. They further pointed out that this abandoned building has become shelter of the cattle of many people, place for private parking and also a safe place for the drug- addicts and peddlers.
As per officials record at R&B Sub Division Mendhar, over Rs 7 crore has been spent on the construction work of said project. The locals appealed to the Governor’s Administration to get the complex completed as early as possible.
Executive Engineer, R&B, Poonch Surinder Singh when contacted said that due to paucity of funds, the construction has been stopped. He said so far, funds to the tune of Rs 7 crore have been utilized on the project. As and when the remaining amount is released by the Government, the building will be completed. He said it is three- storey building and there is no fault of contractor.
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