Sanction of Rs 16.50 lakhs for infra awaited
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 28: Completed more than five years ago, the two-storey building of PWD Guest House at Latti Tehsil headquarters in remote and picturesque Dudu Sub Division of district Udhampur, is still lying closed and not made operational despite the fact that building is complete in all respects.
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Situated on Latti-Dudu-Basantgarh road, this is one of the best official Guest Houses in Dudu Sub Division with four rooms, large ground floor lobby and spacious kitchen, three washrooms and good parking space, the building has been left to get further damaged. Moreover, its back drain is blocked for the several years and the dirty water giving foul smell is damaging its foundations.
The approach road has been damaged due to absence of side drain as rain water flows over it and the water leakage in the upper and lower lobbies, is causing damage to the ceiling and one front wall of the structure. The water get blocked during rain and due to blockage of pipes, the seepage cause damage to the building.
Official sources said that constructed with the cost of over Rs 50 lakhs with some additional amount utilized for the construction of this building, the higher authorities in the PW(R&B) Department failed to sanction Rs 16.50 lakhs for the urgent infrastructure/furniture for this Govt Guest House.
Even the fencing work and raising main gate at the front of this building is yet awaited. The work was started on the project during 2009 and it was completed during 2018. Over nine years time fell short for the department to construct this just two storey building, for which hardly 18 months time was given.
Both the Sarpanchs of the Latti town claimed that they wrote to the concerned Executive Engineer PWD at Udhampur/Chenani several times and also brought the matter to the notice of Deputy Commissioners, Udhampur during last over four years but the PWD Guest House was not made operational.
They said more than Rs 50 lakhs have been spent on this beautiful building but due to the apathy of the officials at the helm of affairs, this building has been left to get damaged. Even, the matter was also brought to the notice of the then Principal Secretary, PWD, Shailendra Kumar, they claimed.
Executive Engineer, PW(R&B), Chenani, Suresh Bharti when contacted said that building is complete in all respects. But funds to the tune of Rs 16.50 lakhs are required for the urgent infrastructure (Furniture/ beds/ sofas/ dinning table, chairs) etc. Some funds are also needed for fencing and raising main gate there for the protection and safety of the guests. Bharti claimed that he and his predecessor had written to the higher authorities/Chief Engineer for the sanction of Rs 16.50 lakh for purchase of furniture and other necessary items for the guest house.
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