Additional Chief Secretary (TD) has directed Lahaul Spiti Deputy Commissioner to send a detailed report regarding the cause of delay in the construction of Udaipur Sports Stadium. It is interesting to mention here that the work of sports stadium was started in 1986. A budget of Rs 10.71 Lacs was sanctioned for it, but due to departmental wrangle it is not yet completed and now cost has also shot up to Rs. 1.19-cr.
This case came to light after the RTI revelation on the request of Sudershan Thakur, Advocate High Court and President North India RTI Users Association (NIRTIUA), in which he sought information regarding Udaipur Sports Stadium from Public Information Officer (PIO) -Cum- Executive Engineer HPPWD Udaipur, District Lahaul Spiti. The Executive Engineer, HPPWD Udaipur District Lahaul Spiti, in his reply, revealed that initial cost of the project was 10.71 lakh and now it reached to an exuberating Rs 1,19,64,726 (1.19-cr) which is 12 times more than the budget estimated at the time of foundation stone laying ceremony.
Sudershan Thakur said that Ex. En. HPPWD in its RTI reply stated that the non clearance from forest department was the major reason for the incompletion of the stadium, but what is perplexing is government has given forest clearance to many proposed hydro projects of Big Corporates in Udaipur Sub division within six months, but surprisingly sports stadium is waiting for forest clearance since 1986.
RTI Activist Sudershan Thakur has approached Chief Secretary Himachal Pradesh and demanded “Judicial /Vigilance” inquiry into the delay in Udaipur Sports Stadium. In response, Additional Chief Secretary Tribal Development Department (TDD) Govt. of Himachal Pradesh has asked the Deputy Commissioner Lahaul Spiti to submit report on 26 year delay of sports stadium and 12 fold rises in budget etc. ACS has assured activist with the inquiry after the report from DC Lahaul Spiti.
In a time when State is thriving for rapid and overall development, far flung region of the Himachal Pradesh, which needs even more attention from the govt. lacks even basic amenities and surprisingly projects which were started even three decade earlier are not complete yet.
