Chairman of State Assembly Committee on Tourism Promotion and Hussainabad MlA Kushwaha Shivpujan Mehta on Friday threatened to resign from the Assembly Committee if Chief Minister Raghubar Das fails to take action against officials involved in misuse of Government funds assigned for tourism project.
The Assembly Committee chairman held meeting with the East Singbhum district administration before visiting tourism project sites. He expressed concerns at the bungling of Government funds in beautification and renovation of Yatri Niwas near the Surya Mandir premises in Sidhgora in city.
“During my inspection I have found that funds to tune of several lakh have been rigged by private contractors in connivance with government officials that too in an area which falls under the home constituency of our CMRaghubar Das (Jamshedpur East). I have found that poor quality of work has been made both in beautification and repair of the Yatri Niwas and Children Park at Sone Mandap. I am shocked to see the project,” said the chairman of the committee who is also the BSP MlA.
Raghubar Das is the patron of the Surya Mandir committee and the beautification of the Yatri Niwas, Children Park at Sone Mandap are being undertaken after the initiative of the Chief Minister last year.
“I am going to submit my report along with recommendation for action against officials involved in fund misuse to the CM and the assembly soon after I return to Ranchi. I will personally speak to him about the two projects. If I fail to get a concrete assurance from him, then I will resign as chairman of the committee,” said Kushwaha Shivpujan Mehta.
According to information the double storied Yatri Niwas (G+1) built in 2005 and spread in nearly 2000 sq feet of area at a cost of Rs 17 lakh under MlA fund was designed to provide easy accommodation and other facilities to the pilgrims and tourism visiting the nearby Surya Mandir. The niwas comprise of six rooms and kitchen facility along with a public telephone facility.
However, the Yatri Niwas has been left under-utilised with any visitors staying there due to lack of proper staff to look after kitchen and poor condition of room. The niwas was not properly furnished which deterred tourists and devotees from staying there. JTDC (Jharkhand Tourism Development Corporation) used to run its office from the Yatri Niwas.
“ I am surprised to note that the yatri niwas beautification work had an estimate of Rs32 lakh and Rs19 lakh has already been used for beautification work. But rust can be seen at the door and window panel,” the chairman added.