Official apathy delays handing over of Budhal college building

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, June 17

Even after 11 years of establishment under the Prime Minister Reconstruction Programme, Government Degree College at Budhal does not have a building.

The college was started in five rooms of Higher Secondary School at Budhal and has been running at the same location since.

The new building is ready, but the authorities have failed to complete the boundary wall and the main gate due to a land dispute. The former principal of the college had refused to take over the building without gate and complete boundary wall.

“Cracks in the building, incomplete internal roads, inadequate drainage system, left-out boundary wall and demand for safety certificate from the PWD (R&B) by the college authorities are the other reasons for refusing to take over the building,” said J Qazi, principal in charge.

The land for the college building was identified in 2010 and in 2014, the construction work was started by the PWD (R&B) at a cost of Rs 10.57 crore.

The PWD has almost completed the construction, but the college authorities have refused to take over the building without complete boundary wall and main gate.

A land donor has claimed back his 2.5 kanals (college main gate). The de-notification issued by the revenue department for the demarcation of the land has created hurdles in the installation of the main gate and completion of the boundary wall.

The lackadaisical attitude of officials of the education, public works and the revenue departments is the main reason behind the land dispute remaining unresolved.

In January, Ved Parkash, Additional DC, Kotrnaka, had claimed to have resolved the land issue within the shortest time, but even after five months, nothing has been done in the matter. The Kotranka tehsildar said, “The naib tehsildar has been directed for the demarcation of the disputed land.”

“Work on internal roads and drainage system is in progress. It will take another two months in handing over the building to the college authorities if the education and revenue departments succeed in resolving the land dispute,” said Mohd Zubair, executive engineer, PWD (R&B).