12 years on, mahila mandal offices yet to be completed in Palampur

Ravinder Sood

Palampur, July 29

Several buildings that were being constructed for mahila mandals in various villages of Palampur subdivision have been left half built. Interestingly, state authorities have failed to release funds for their construction even when the work began over 12 years ago.

Funded under MPLADS

I got the funds sanctioned under the MPLADS from the then MP, Shanta Kumar. But in 2012, the Congress-led government was formed. Since then, no one has bothered to complete the work. Parveen Sharma, former MLA, Palampur

In the absence of the offices, many mahila mandals are running from private buildings or the residence of panchayat pradhans.

The work on these buildings was taken up in 2010 when the then MP Shanta Kumar had released funds from Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). But when the government changed in 2012 and again in 2017, no funds were released and the buildings are still awaiting completion.

Panchayat representatives of various villages in the region said despite repeated requests to local MLA, Block Development Officer and the District Panchyat Officer, no funds had been released for the work.

Former local MLA Parveen Sharma said the construction of these buildings was initiated by him when he represented the constituency from 2007 to 2012. “I got funds from the then MP, Shanta Kumar. However, in the 2012, the Congress-led government was formed. Since then, no one has bothered to complete these buildings,” he added.

He said he recently requested MPs Indu Goswami and Krishan Kapoor to grant funds from their MPLADS quota to complete the buildings.

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