 ANKIT KESSAR
EARLY TIMES REPORT
RAJOURI, Feb 25: The Rural Development Department (RDD) Rajouri has allegedly been showing deliberate reluctance to handover upgraded Mini Sports Stadium to District Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) Department.
The reason for making undue delay on the part of RDD can be attributed to the substandard work done in construction of pavilion as the tiles have started crumbling indicating embezzlement of funds.
Sources told Early Times that around Rs 25.63 lakhs were released under Khelo India for the upgradation of Mini Sports Stadium Rajouri, wherein pavilion was to be constructed, which was inaugurated by the then District Development Commissioner on 29-04-2019.
Rural Development Department Rajouri was assigned the construction work. “Shockingly, the executing agency has yet to handover the pavilion to the DYSS but its tiles have started getting off, which clearly indicates towards the substandard material used for its construction by the RDD,” they alleged.
They further said that the backside portion of pavilion wall has been constructed of single brick layer, which doesn’t give it the strength and has been posing serious danger to the structure. Moreover there is deep gorge at the backside of the pavilion.
Locals alleged that a very scanty amount to the tune of Rs 5 to 6 lakhs have been spent in construction of pavilion and which clearly indicates that rest amount has been siphoned off.
District Sports Officer Rajouri, Ashok Kumar Gandotra, when contacted said that he had joined the posting recently but as per his knowledge the building was completed but despite repeated communication to RDD to hand over it, the executing agency has not responded till date.
ACD Rajouri Sushil Kajuaria said that he doesn’t know about the present status of the matter that whether building has been handed over or not, but he would inquire about it. When Early Times contacted DDC Nazir Ahmed Sheikh in this connection, he said that he would personally pay visit to the spot to take firsthand information of the matter and assured that erring officials will be punished.
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