In south Kashmir’s Tral township of Pulwama district, the drug de-addiction centre is under construction for last seven years.
According to sources, the lack of funds and “governmentindifference” are hindering the completion of the building.
In 2011, the department of social welfare sent a proposal tothe government for the establishment of the de-addiction centre, which was approvedin 2012.
According to the locals, subsequently in 2012 the Roads& Buildings (R&B) department started the construction of the building.”But more than seven years have passed since, yet the building is incomplete,”the locals said, adding that they have submitted several representations to theofficials concerned seeking to expedite the work but to no avail.
People from Tral, Awantipora and Aripal expressed anguishover the delay in its completion.
A senior official of R&B department Pulwama blamed thegovernment for delay in its completion. “The government delayed the release ofthe funds, which hampered the work on several occasions. We could havecompleted it within a year, but funds were always a problem,” he said.
When contacted, District Social Welfare Officer Pulwama,Mukhtar Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that the building is almost complete andwill be thrown open within two weeks. “Some minor interior work is to be donebefore it is handed over to the authorities,” he said.