Rourkela: Three projects for which funds were allotted by the district mineral fund (DMF) and Western Odisha Development Council (WODC) in Sundargarh district are facing inordinate delays in completion. The three projects are beautification of Bijulibandha, construction of the Bhojpur bridge and the renovation of the Civic Centre. Funds came from DMF as well as WODC for the projects.
The beautification of Bijulibandha started in 2019. The initial cost of the project was fixed at Rs28 crore. The work was to end by mid-2020, but even now it remains incomplete.
Construction of the Bhojpur bridge would have benefited the residents of in Tangarpalli, Sabdega and Balishankara blocks. Residents of those areas would have reached the district headquarters easily and cheaply. Work began in 2022 and it was expected that the bridge would be ready for the public by December 2023. Now sources informed that the construction company has stopped work.
Sundargarh was in need of a good public auditorium and initially, one was constructed with funds from MCL. It was handed over to the Sundargarh Municipality for maintenance and management. The charge per day for any event was fixed at Rs3,000. Currently however, no one wants to use the building due to lack of maintenance. The building, called as ‘Madri Kalo Bhawan’ wears a dilapidated look now.
Before the last municipal elections Rs3.50 crore, rupees three crore from the DMF and Rs50 lakh from WODC, were given to the municipality for complete renovation of the building. The collector decided to float separate tenders for the renovation work. However, nothing progressed after that.
A BJP-led council was elected to the Sundargarh Municipality. The new chairman cancelled all previous tenders and handed over the renovation job to the Roads and Building department. Order for renovation work was issued July 16, 2023 and the completion of the project was expected by March 2024. Even though work has started, no one knows when it will be over.
With a new government set to take oath in two days, all eyes are on the future of the projects. “We are waiting to see what the new government is going to do about the new projects as it has come to power promising, development,” said a resident of Sundargarh.
PNN
