Not even inaugurated, but already dilapidated

STRING OF COMPLETED BUT UNATTENDED INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTH SIKKIM CALLS FOR URGENT ATTENTION

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
MANGAN, 03 July: Infrastructure development has been a thrust area of the state government especially with regard to encouraging tourism in the state. However, many parks and buildings have been constructed but left abandoned without even an official inauguration. Many such infrastructures are already in need of repairs having been left largely unattended since completion of construction but not officially inaugurated.
The government or the concerned department are not the only ones to blame for such negligence and apathy. The public are also to be held responsible for the lack of civic sense towards such public property that results in defaced buildings and parks littered with garbage.
The construction of infrastructure if it was of no immediate use [since they have not received even an official inauguration] also raises questions on the motive behind such spending of public money.
There are many NGOs and SHGs which are requesting the concerned department to sublet such parks and centres to them following proper norms and guidelines as set by the department.
For instance, the newly constructed Jurassic park at Lower Samdong in East Sikkim was constructed some years ago and has been left abandoned and is in a sorry state now. The entrance gate of the park has been locked ever since the construction was completed.
Few months earlier the infrastructure inside the park like table, chairs and machines for the newly installed 3D simulator were vandalised and stolen by some miscreants due to the lack of a caretaker being stationed there. The vapour lights in the garden were also damaged not to mention the litter that is strewn everywhere around the park. Unfortunately, the newly constructed park requires renovation now.
Similarly, the tourist view point at Rakdong Monastery is also eagerly awaiting its inauguration despite being completed a few years ago. At the moment, the view point is under lock and key. The tourist view point at Tumlong in North Sikkim also needs proper upkeep and a care taker. The department’s reluctance to sublet the infrastructure on lease to local NGOs or SHGs is difficult to understand since there are many such organisations willing to do so.
The forest department building constructed at Tingda village on the Gangtok-Mangan highway in North Sikkim has also been left abandoned and sadly, is being used as a toilet by the public. One can imagine the kind of filth and stench that must mean. All windows and doors and other items inside the building are also damaged.
Likewise, the two-storeyed HRDD building constructed at Munsithang near Lachen in North Sikkim is also not in use as the building has been left abandoned since construction and has been engaged by labourers as a labour colony at present.
The newly constructed cafeteria by Tourism Department at Mangan near the petrol pump also awaits inauguration.
There are many such infrastructures which remain neglected and uncared for by the government and the public. Therefore, there is urgent need for proper monitoring of the money spent in such construction together with proper planning and utilisation of such infrastructure.