Navi Mumbai: It is rural development dept's prerogative to inaugurate Gram Vikas Bhavan, says Cidco

It has been almost a year since Cidco constructed the Gram Vikas Bhavan in Kharghar but the building is still awaiting its inauguration. This building in sector 21 is being referred to as the ‘white elephant’ by various social organisations who claim that this is an attempt by the state government as well as Cidco to fool the people. They also feel that authorities shouldn’t have constructed the facility in the first place, for according to them, it is a sheer waste of public money.

Cidco authorities though, have rubbished the claims and stated that the project was entirely conceptualised by the rural development ministry of the state government. “The rural development department felt it was necessary that such a facility be built, and Cidco has just been the implementing authority. We constructed the facility on behalf of the rural development department, so it is their project entirely, not Cidco’s,” a senior Cidco official said on condition of anonymity.

As far as inaugurating the facility is concerned, the official said that it is the prerogative of the rural development department to do so and not theirs. “Cidco’s role in the project is only limited to its  construction. In no way it is to be held responsible if the inauguration is being delayed. It is up to the rural development department to take a call on this,” the official added.

Social organisations from the node claim that there was no need to have the Gram Vikas Bhavan in the satellite city as the purpose of setting up this structure was to provide facility for training the rural artisans. The foundation stone of the same was laid in 1997 when Kharghar was considered as a village, but today, the entire face of the same village has changed and it has become one of the best nodes of Navi Mumbai.

“The locals should get to decide what is good for them,  a community centre, a hospital, a post office or any public utility. A structure like this will hardly be used by rural folks, and they do not stay in the city any more, while it is being commercially exploited by the authorities by renting it out to the corporates which is not the purpose behind constructing this bhavan,” they claim and demanded the authorities to set up other facilities such as post offices, passport office, to  name a few which will be beneficial to the residents.

The Bhavan comprises ground-plus-five-floor structure with an auditorium having capacity of 500 persons, hall to conduct workshop for 100 persons, 57 double bedded rooms, dining and kitchen area for 120 persons and a shopping area for 33 establishments. The Bhavan will also have a shopping complex for self-help group credit societies and rural artisans.

Awaiting inauguration
The Gram Vikas Bhavan comprises ground-plus-five-floor structure with auditorium having capacity of 500 persons, hall to conduct workshop for 100 persons, 57 double bedded rooms, dining and kitchen area for 120 persons and a shopping area for 33 establishments. The Bhavan will also have a shopping complex for self-help group credit societies and rural artisans

Social organisations claim that this is an attempt by the state government as well as Cidco to fool the people. They also feel that authorities shouldn’t have constructed the facility in the first place, for according to them, it is a sheer oney