Saswat Singhdeo

Koraput: After the death of an 8-year-old boy in the Upper Kolab hydel project colony of Jeypore recently, concerns are now being flagged on the scores of government buildings lying in dilapidated condition in the State.

According to sources, while there are 56 unsafe buildings in 14 blocks of the colony, the Water Resources department has brushed aside the allegations of government apathy by saying that the buildings were red marked in the year 2014.

A local resident Subash Khara said, “Despite repeated complaints before the local authority, nothing has been done so far. There are many buildings in the area which pose a major threat but the residents have no other option but to stay due to the apathetic attitude of the government.”

Following the building collapse incident, the Chief Construction Engineer of the Upper Kolab project, Anand Chandra Sahu, had assured to take immediate steps to clear the structure.

Instances of buildings lying in perilous condition are also evident in Angul district. For example, the Bagadia RI office building where a long pipe has been used to support the structure lying in dilapidated condition. However, staffs of the office are working under extremely dangerous condition.

Speaking on the pathetic condition of the building, Assistant RI of Bagadia, Bamdev Sahu said, “The roof is leaking and there are huge cracks on the walls of the office building. Residents of 31 villages are dependent on it for their official works."

Similarly, at Chhendipada sub-registrar office, big cracks on the walls are pointing towards gross neglect of the administration. When asked, Chhendipada Tehsildar Daniel Ekka said, “We have proposed for renovation work of the building and soon the construction will begin.”

Even capital city Bhubaneswar has many such buildings languishing under acute neglect and posing major threat to people. Worried over the condition of Lingaraj market place building, a trader, Ranjan Das said, “There are many shopkeepers in this centre who are anxiously waiting to be shifted to a new building.”

 

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