By Arun Pratap Singh
my uttarakhand news Bureau
DEHRADUN, 15 Nov: Construction of Uttarakhand’s first Green Building, located on the site of the old Roadways Depot on Haridwar Road in the heart of Dehradun, has become the centre of an escalating political dispute. Undue delays in the construction have drawn criticism not only from the Congress but also from senior BJP leaders. Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister, Harish Rawat has questioned the progress and transparency of the project, directing his concerns towards both the state and central governments as well as the implementing agency. At the same time, former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, too, has voiced reservations over the project’s sluggish pace.
The Green Building, estimated at a cost of Rs 206 crore, scheduled for completion in October this year, was intended to house all government departments under one roof. Although announced during the tenure of Trivendra Singh Rawat, the project was subsequently taken forward as a ‘dream project’ by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who had directed officials to speed up the work. The Central government is funding 70 per cent of the cost, while the State government is pooling in the remaining 30 per cent. However, despite the passage of several years, only excavation is currently visible at the site, which has also been surrounded by controversies.
Last week, the Mining Department seized an excavating machine (Poclain) from the premises and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh, stating that certain activities were being carried out irregularly and without authorisation. The implementing agency has also faced serious questions following action taken earlier at the District Magistrate level over similar lapses.
Harish Rawat has alleged that he had received information suggesting that Central funds earmarked for the project were being returned due to failure to meet deadlines. Rawat also expressed shock at recurring reports of corruption linked to the project and questioned how such irregularities could occur in the middle of the capital city. Terming the situation extremely disturbing, he urged the State government to intervene without delay.
Echoing his concerns, newly appointed Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal also asserted that if the condition of a major project in the capital was so poor, the state of projects, schools, hospitals, and other buildings in the hill districts could well be imagined. He called upon the Government to take firm action to send a strong message regarding accountability in public works.
Concerns have also emerged within the BJP. Former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has stated that every project should have a defined timeline, and if work is not completed within that period, penalties must be imposed on the implementing agency. He emphasised the need to identify the reasons for the persistent delays, adding that cost escalations arising from such setbacks were damaging to the state’s interests.
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