10 years on, work on Uttarkashi’s Pipli polytechnic building yet to take shape

UTTARKASHI: Construction of the proposed govt polytechnic building in Pipli village of Dunda development block in Uttarkashi district remains incomplete nearly a decade after it was approved.The polytechnic was approved in 2014 and construction was scheduled to begin in 2016. However, work has not started at the site so far. Villagers claim that crores of rupees have already been spent on the project even though the land remains vacant.Residents had donated land for the polytechnic so that youths in the area could access technical education. But with no construction taking place even after several years, resentment among villagers has been growing.At present, students of Pipli Polytechnic are studying with limited resources and classes are being conducted in just four rooms. Resident Surendra Panwar said, "Villagers had voluntarily donated land for the institute, but construction had not begun even after nearly 10 years." He alleged that the implementing agency had shown an expenditure of about Rs 5 crore on the project.Panwar said he obtained information under the RTI Act, which revealed that around Rs 5 crore had been shown as spent on the construction of the polytechnic building despite no work being carried out on the land. He demanded an impartial probe and strict action against those responsible.Acting principal of Pipli Polytechnic, Smarika Shah Khati, said, "The construction work had been assigned to the Uttar Pradesh Construction Corporation. Following complaints from villagers, an inquiry committee was formed under the chairmanship of the district magistrate." The committee has completed its inquiry and submitted its report to the govt.Khati said the govt had issued instructions to register an FIR in the matter. The Uttar Pradesh Construction Corporation has also been asked to submit a departmental report along with the names of officers and employees associated with the project so that further legal action can be taken.