BERHAMPUR: Construction of a Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra at Humuridharmasaranpur in Ganjam block is yet to start after it was stalled seven years back.
The kendra was supposed to act as a village knowledge resource centre or gram panchayat bhawan at the gram panchayat level. Launched in 2009, a gram panchayat bhawan was supposed to come up in panchayat and block headquarters at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh respectively. These would function as a single window for providing information related to development works implemented at the block level. Besides, people would also meet there and discuss issues related to their villages and panchayats.
For Humuridharmasaranpur, a sum of of Rs 10 lakh was sanctioned and accordingly, the work started. When the construction was midway, some portions of the building caved in. Subsequently, a team of officers from the District Rural Development Agency found the work to be substandard and ordered for reconstruction. Before the reconstruction could start, another portion of the kendra caved in during Phailin. Since then, no steps have been taken to rebuild the Bharat Nirman Rajiv Gandhi Seva Kendra.
Recently, panchayat samiti member of the village, Sanjukta Gouda urged the district administration to look into the matter and ensure completion of the building. Junior engineer of the block, R Sibani said the matter has been placed before the officials concerned and construction would be taken up after receiving their directions.