The BBMP had assigned a contractor to renovate a community hall at Kadugondanahalli at an estimated cost of Rs70 lakh for the benefit of lower- and middle-class families. The renovation and building another floor was completed 18 months ago, but the hall’s doors remain locked. The reason: A tussle between the BBMP executive engineer and the contractor.
The ground floor was inaugurated by the then MP CK Jaffer Sharief and the then BBMP mayor Prema Cariappa on October 3, 2001. However, the community hall, like most such halls in the city, remained neglected. With the hall becoming unfit for hosting functions, the MLA and corporator had to appeal the BBMP to renovate it and the BBMP allocated Rs49.90 lakh. The work was commenced on August 27, 2009, but providing additional facilities such as kitchen block, a help centre and additional room escalated the cost of construction.
MLA KJ George convinced BBMP authorities to revise the work order and succeeded in getting it increased to Rs70 lakh. “I convinced the BBMP engineers to revise the work order. I think the renovation work is completed. I had advised the BBMP engineers to make arrangements for the inauguration of community hall,” George said.
However, the contractor is yet to receive payment for work done at the community hall. “They are yet to give me Rs35 lakh. The executive engineer threatens me whenever I approach him to send the file to the authorities for payment,” said Babu, a contractor.
But BBMP executive engineer Jayashankar Reddy said the contractor did not avail the approval of the authorities to take up additional works at the community hall. “The special deputy commissioner had objected to the escalation of cost. We sent the work order for revalidation. The contractor has to wait till the special DC clears the file,” said Reddy.
With the delay in opening the community hall, residents of Kadugondanahalli are facing problems, especially while organising family functions. Most of them come under the below poverty line category and can’t afford to rent private community halls. “The delay in opening the community hall is causing problems. Residents are finding it tough to garner funds to pay rentals for private community halls to organise functions,” said Chotu Qureshi, a social worker and Congress activist.
Meanwhile, residents want the community hall to be reopened as early as possible and are not bothered about the dispute between the contractors and BBMP engineers. “The community hall is constructed with tax-payers’ money. It will benefit the residents of Kadugondanahalli and other areas if the BBMP takes measures to open it soon,” said a resident.
However, BBMP assistant executive engineer Rachappa has assured to make arrangements for the inauguration of the community hall. “All the issues will be solved. I am making arrangements for the inauguration of the community hall within a few days,” he said. Will the BBMP authorities honour their commitment? The residents of Kadugondanahalli will have to wait and watch.
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