Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Unlike the municipal corporation, the zilla parishad does not have its own independent sources of income. Although the new administrative building has reached completion, furniture and electrification work have been stalled due to a shortage of funds. As a result, the newly elected office-bearers will, for the time being, have to use the old chambers. The administration has currently taken up cleaning work of the old offices.
From February 10, the new members’ body will take charge at the mini secretariat. Many had expected that the new members would be welcomed into the new administrative building. However, as funds have not been received from the government, furniture-related work has been delayed. Recently, the exterior painting of the building has been completed, but due to the absence of a power feeder, wiring work and lift testing have also been delayed. Therefore, for a few more days, the new members and office-bearers will have to function from the old chambers. Meanwhile, the elections for the posts of president, vice-president and committee chairpersons may be held in the Ellora Hall near the chief executive officer’s office, or in a hall decided by the district collector.
MSEDCL’s conditions unacceptable
If a new feeder is installed, adequate electricity supply can be ensured for lifts and other offices. Accordingly, the ZP administration had requested a separate feeder from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL). MSEDCL is willing to install a feeder behind the former health section building by laying an underground cable from a distance of two to three kilometres. Through this feeder, MSEDCL also proposes to supply electricity to nearby residential and commercial consumers. However, the ZP administration has demanded either rent for the land or the provision of roads, a protective wall, or a solar system within the administrative building vicinity. MSEDCL has not agreed to these conditions.
₹60 crore spent on the building
So far, ₹60 crore has been spent on the new administrative building. Subsequently, a demand for an additional ₹12 crore was made to the government for furniture, but the funds were not sanctioned. As a result, the responsibility of arranging funds will be handed over to the new office-bearers. They may either make provisions through local cess funds or secure funds from the government.
Box
Provision from cess or…
Additional CEO Vasudev Solanke said, “Preparations for the budget are under way. Furniture work for the new administrative building remains pending. Whether funds for this work should be allocated from the cess or obtained from the government by using political influence will be decided by the new members’ body. The budget will be presented by the new office-bearers.”
For now… who will sit where?
Until work on the new building is completed:
The newly elected President will sit in the existing President’s chamber.
The Vice-President will sit in the old Vice-President’s chamber.
The Chairman of the Construction Committee will occupy his current chamber.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer Sudarshan Ghorpade, who currently sits there, will be accommodated in the old CEO’s chamber.
The Chairperson of the Women and Child Development Committee will sit in her old chamber, while the officer currently occupying that space will be shifted to the Social Welfare section.