Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 6: Ripping apart the Government’s claims of providing swift administrative and development services, it has failed to mitigate woes faced by the people of Pulwama district due to delay in commissioning of the mini-secretariat to public.
The work on the mini-secretariat building was started by the Government in 2009, however, five years have passed and it is yet to be completed.
The district administration cites paucity of funds and strike by the contractors as the reason for its incompletion.
“The funds for construction of the huge building are allotted from the state sector plan, not from district plan. So the delays in allotment of funds and strike by contractors for about one month were the reason for the construction remaining unfinished within the targeted time,” said Manzoor Ahmad Lone, District Development Commissioner, Pulwama.
Lone said the mini-secretariat is constructed at a cost of Rs12.5 crore and is being given finishing touches to throw it open to the public. “We hope it will be commissioned by the end of September this year,” he said.
The district has atleast 40 Government offices scattered across the Pulwama town, mounting the daily woes of applicants as they have to roam every nook and corner to locate the offices. Even some offices are functioning from dingy rented buildings.
The DDC said the new secretariat will be as asset to the public as it will help mitigate their hassles as some major offices will be shifted here.
Since the mini secretariat building has been constructed behind the old building and is not visible to people, the DDC said to make it visible from distance part of the old office, which is in dilapidated condition will be demolished.
“The demolished material will be auctioned and the money raised will be spent to renovate the remaining part of the old office to give it a modern look,” he said.
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