Rs 1 crore spent on repairs but commute remains a nightmare in Fatehgarh Sahib

Rs 1 crore spent on repairs but commute remains a nightmare in Fatehgarh Sahib . The first day of official work at the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office was carried out amid chaos, with the staff and visitors dealing with the impact of the recent move to Ambedkar Bhawan near Guru Harkrishan Public School.

SDM Amit Gupta and the staff discharged duties from a makeshift arrangement with office record still packed in bundles, heaps of folders and even in trunk and almirahs lying in the verandah of the building for the past three days.

Sources privy to the developments said some of the records have been shifted to Mohali at the DAC, while recent records are at the new premises.

The initial budget of the centre was around Rs 22.5 lakh, of which Rs 12 lakh was to be spent by the Centre, Rs 8 lakh by the state government and Rs 2.5 lakh by the civic body. However, it has now become a safe haven for drug addicts.

Around Rs 1.2 crore spent on the community centre on the Khanpur Road here in 2008 has gone down the drain as the building still remains incomplete and has been almost abandoned. The structure was completed nearly a decade ago, but it has not been put to any use. Even the foundation stone of the building is missing.

Established under the Integrated Development of Small and Medium Towns (IDSMT) scheme of the Central government, the centre took a lot of time for completion and the cost escalated more than 5 times of the allocated budget.

The initial budget of the centre was around Rs 22.5 lakh, of which Rs 12 lakh was to be spent by the Centre, Rs 8 lakh by the state government and Rs 2.5 lakh by the civic body. However, it has now become a safe haven for drug addicts.

Though the municipal council had planned to give the centre on contract at a meeting in June 2015, but nothing has happened as of now.

After the meeting in June 2015, Tarlok Singh Bajwa, former president of the MC, had said, “It will take some more time to implement the plan. We are expecting to complete the formalities and the renovation work by January 2018 after which we will give it on contract.”

However, the council has failed to implement its plan even after 2 years.

While Sher Singh, current president of the MC said, they recently passed a resolution at a council meeting for its renovation and give it on contract. “An inquiry into the embezzlement of funds allegedly during its construction is still pending. We have to hold on the contract plan till it’s the completion of the inquiry,” Sher Singh said.

The two-floor building with several rooms, two halls, washrooms and kitchen has lost all window and door panes. Walls have developed cracks and there is growth of bushes in the premises.

With Thanks and Reference to:https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/rs-1-2-crore-spent-on-community-centre-in-sirhind-goes-down-the-drain/story-g5W6qPv0ftAZO6t2T9KG2J.html and https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/patiala/rs-1-crore-spent-on-repairs-but-commute-remains-a-nightmare-in-fatehgarh-sahib/