Balasore: A guest house of Works department, the construction of which was started four years ago at Gandibeda locality under Khaira block in Balasore district is facing administrative apathy. Construction of it was left midway after a substantial amount of money had been spent, many locals alleged Saturday. They also demanded that the work be completed soon.
In order to provide temporary accommodation to officials coming from other districts, the construction of the guest house was taken up in 2018. Deadline for completion of the same was stated for mid-2019. Now however, it looks like a haunted house.
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Sources said the contractor concerned has handed the work to another party on sub-contract basis, which has given rise to the crisis.
A local outfit named ‘Baristha Nagarika Mancha’ handed over September 2, a memorandum to the local MLA and tourism Minister Jyotiprakash Panigrahi. In it they said that the completion of the work at an estimated expenditure of Rs 30 lakh must be completed soon.
On being contacted, Works department assistant engineer Harish Chandra Dwari said, “Steps are being taken to cancel the work order of previous contractor and float a fresh tender instead.”
PNN