Govind Sharma
JAMMU, May 15: Unbelievable it may sound but it is true that a double-storey Government building constructed about 14 years back at Iqbal Nagar, Surankote in Poonch district, for housing a Zonal Resource Center (ZRC) under Sarv Siksha Abhiyaan (SSA), has been turned into a safe zone for various types of criminal activities, besides a parking spot of vehicles of locals and shelter for street dogs.
According to sources, the two-storey building comprising of about 10-15 rooms was constructed in the premises of Government Girls Middle School, Iqbal Nagar, which is just 100 kilometre from National Highway Poonch, in 2004 by the Education Department with an investment of about Rs 25-30 lakh for housing a ZRC Centre.
“However, the building was never taken over by the Education Department for the purpose it was constructed, thereby causing loss to State exchequer”, sources said, adding the condition of the building is now worst and locals are now using the ground floor of the building for parking their vehicles while rooms in 2nd floor has been occupied by the stray dogs.
They said the building has also become a safe zone for various types of criminal activities like smuggling of banned drugs. According to the locals of the area, last year due to overdose of drugs a young boy was found in unconscious condition from the building and later he died in the hospital. Beside the building, there is an open septic tank full of water, which not only emits foul smell but also has become a death zone for the children of the locality as well as nearby Government school.
Sources said what an agony that when many Government offices like ZEO office, Social Welfare Office and Municipal Committee office in Surankote are being run from rented accommodations by paying hefty amount as rent to the private persons, this Government building has been left to ruin by the Education Department.
Advocate Syed Mumtaz Shah, a local resident of the area told Excelsior that in past many years, the locals of the area gave many representations to DC Poonch and CEO Poonch but they did not pay heed to the issue. He said in the year 2014 also, he led a delegation of locals to DC Poonch urging him to either put to use or dismantle this building which has become a cause of concern for the local populace but nothing was done despite assurances.
He said that inhabitants of Iqbal Nagar have now decided to knock the door of court in this connection if this criminal hub is not demolished or put to use by the concerned authorities.
When contacted, ZEO Surankote, Altaf Shah, said that due to alleged use of sub standard material and some escalation of cost in construction of the building, the then CEO refused to take over it from the construction agency and since then the building is lying unused.
He said some years ago this office gave an estimate to then CEO Poonch regarding repair/renovation work of the building so that it may be used as ZEO office, Surankote but due to short of funds that plan was shelved.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Basharat Hussain, when contacted, said that he is not aware of the matter but if it is true he will do whatever he can do along with the concerned department. The ADC said that he will direct the concerned SDM to personally visit the spot and assess the ground situation for further action.
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