A women’s hostel project, initiated by the Government, is yet to see light of the day. The 48-bed hostel was meant for women working in government and semi-government sectors. The construction, which began in 1989, was stopped mid-way for non-release of funds.
In 1989, a foundation stone was laid for the Rs 14.88 lakh project with Centre and State sharing the cost. Of the estimate, Rs 12 lakh was sanctioned, of which Centre and State released Rs 8 lakh and Rs 4 lakh respectively.
Subsequently, the Phulbani NAC was asked to execute the work and bear the extra cost of ` 2.88 lakh. However, the NAC authorities instead leased out the construction work to the Odisha State Police Housing Corporation (OSPHC), Bhubaneswar, and paid them Rs 8 lakh for the work.
After completion of three-fourth portion of the main building and one-fourth portion of the front elevation work, OSPHC in 1992 stopped the construction and placed claim for ` 2.17 lakh since a total of ` 10.22 lakh was spent on the construction. But the NAC officials said the claimed amount can only be disbursed after OSPHC resumes the work. With both the parties sticking to their guns, construction was stopped mid-way.
“A revised estimate of Rs 15.70 lakh was made for the remaining work in 1994, but the work could not be started for reasons unknown,” said Project Administrator of ITDA, Phulbani, Pranati Patra who is in charge of District Social Welfare Office.
Last month, a sum of Rs 20 lakh was sanctioned by the Government under the Backward Region Grant Fund (BRGF). “Work is yet to start as a new estimate needs to be done as prices of construction materials have increased manifold,” Patra added
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