The long-overdue completion of the Mini Secretariat in Rajouri, initially sanctioned in 2013, remains a glaring example of inefficiency. The residents of Rajouri have endured a decade of inconvenience, navigating between scattered administrative offices for essential services. This delay has not only caused frustration among the public but also highlighted a pressing need for a centralised administrative hub. The initial project, with an estimated cost of Rs 37.69 crores and an approved amount of Rs 10 crores, has seen only Rs 7.20 crores allocated and a mere Rs 1.87 crores spent to date, resulting in just 15% completion. The project was halted in 2015 due to administrative communications and disputes over its location, with work initially starting on the Education Department’s (DIET) land. Despite multiple meetings led by the present DC and his predecessors, consensus on the project’s location has been elusive. The majority of local civil society members support constructing the Mini Secretariat at the current DC office location, spanning 20 kanals. This site is centrally located and easily accessible, making it the ideal choice to house all district-level offices under one roof, thereby streamlining operations and improving service delivery.
The situation in Rajouri contrasts sharply with neighbouring regions, where similar projects have been completed. The operational mini-secretariats in Reasi and Poonch underscore the unnecessary delays and financial losses suffered in Rajouri. Political wrangles and shifting construction sites have inflated the project cost. Abandoning the current site would waste nearly Rs 2 crore of public money already spent. The delay in constructing the Mini Secretariat has deprived Rajouri residents of efficient administrative services, exacerbating their daily struggles. The issue was finally resolved by redesigning the old DC office complex and raising a multi-story building with sufficient parking space and quarters for senior officers. The DPR of the new Mini Secretariat Complex is being prepared, with the contract allotted to a consultancy in Jammu. It is important that the Government approves this plan and resumes construction as agreed upon without further delays.
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