Rs 1 cr needed to complete Mandi zonal veterinary hospital, Himachal govt grants only Rs 10 lakh
MANDI: The construction of the zonal veterinary hospital in Mandi has been stalled for the past nine months due to a significant shortfall in budget.
Despite having spent Rs 4.74 crore to complete 70% of the four-storey building, an additional 1 crore is required to finish the remaining 30% of the work. However, the state government has only allocated Rs 10 lakh for the purpose, which has already been utilised by the department.
Construction work on hold
The contractor responsible for the construction has stopped work for the past nine months. As a result, iron girders installed on the roof and exposed rods outside the building have begun to rust, raising concerns about further damage.
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Foundation stone laid in 2017
The foundation stone for the veterinary hospital was laid in October 2017 by then CM late Virbhadra Singh and then Animal Husbandry Minister Anil Sharma. Following a change in the government, the Jai Ram Thakur regime initiated construction in 2021.
Budget allocation and status
Atul Puri, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, stated that Rs 4.74 crore had already been spent on the civil work of the building. An additional Rs 1 crore is urgently needed to complete the remaining construction. This requirement has been communicated to the higher authorities.
The residents of Mandi are expressing frustration with the state government over the halted construction. They warn that if work does not resume soon, the deteriorating condition of the iron girders could lead to further damage, resulting in wasted public and government funds. The public is urging the state government to expedite the completion of the veterinary hospital to ensure that the benefits of the facility are realised.
