Bandipora, Oct 2: Five years after the construction was started on the mini secretariat in Bandipora district in North Kashmir, the work on the buildings are yet to be completed.
According to the locals, the construction was started immediately in 2007 after Bandipora got district status. “The works on some of the buildings are nearing completion. However, the construction on other structures in the secretariat is going at snail’s pace,” the locals said and accused the Government of showing indifferent attitude towards the issue.
The employees of various government offices, which are functioning from private rented accommodation in the district, and have to be shifted to the mini secretariat, have complained of numerous hardships, urging the government to expedite the construction work. 
“The departments of Public Health Engineering, Finance, Geology and Mining, Fisheries, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Education Office, District Institute of Education and Training, District Sports Office and Assistant Labour, RTO, and Drug are functioning from rented accommodations,” sources said, adding the senior officials of some of the departments were working from shopping complexes and facing hardships.
“We are facing tremendous problems due to lack of proper accommodation in the rented buildings,” said an officer on the conditions of anonymity, adding “most times, we fail to pay rent to the building owner on time as government funds reach late.”
It is pertinent to mention that Government started the work on the mini secretariat, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 22 crores, in year 2007 and till date Rs 12 crores have been utilized to complete one of the Block. The construction work on two other blocks has been started in year 2010.
According to the concerned officials, the work on the buildings was adversely affected due to last two unrests. 
When contacted, Executive Engineer, Ghulam Jeelani Shunthoo told Greater Kashmir “We have completed one block of the secretariat which would be made functional very soon. The work on other two blocks will be completed in next year.”

Lastupdate on : Sun, 2 Oct 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 2 Oct 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 3 Oct 2011 00:00:00 IST