Shashi Somaiah Spent 18 Years Living in a Government Forest Bungalow

Madikeri, July 13: There are grand government guesthouses... There are also grand bungalows like big offices and multi-storey buildings. Don't be surprised to find out which one is the government ghost bungalow. This is a matter of the excise department, which brings in the highest revenue for the state government... The entire state knows that Kodagu district is one step ahead of other districts in the state in terms of liquor.

A plan was made to build an “Excise Bhavan” for the Excise Department in this district, on the outskirts of the district headquarters Madikeri, containing all the main offices of the department. It was intended to start this project, and now it has completed 18 years in the year 2008-09. But instead of starting the work, the building has fallen into disrepair. In fact, the building has not risen to its full potential, and it has been staggered again with the initial phase of work.

The plan was to build an Excise Bhavan, including the Excise Deputy Commissioner’s Office, District Team Office, Excise Deputy Superintendent’s Office, Madikeri Sub-Division and Excise Inspector’s Office, Madikeri Zone Offices, which are functioning in Madikeri. In the year 2008-09, it was planned to build Excise Bhavans in all the districts of the state, for which the then government had initially announced Rs. 28 crores. The Excise Bhavan in Kodagu district was also one of them.

Space Allocation

For the construction of this building, the Kodagu District Administration, through the then District Collector, had allocated a plot of 1.70 acres of land in Survey No. 14/1/2 of K. Nidugane village of Madikeri taluk. In the year 2008-09, a grant of Rs. 70 lakh was received for the construction of this building. The ground floor was constructed with the said grant. At that time, it was a total project of Rs. 2 crore.

From Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 6.50 crore..!

Initially, Rs. 70 lakh was received for the project of Rs. 2 crore. Out of this,construction of the ground floor was done at that time. But after that, the chickas have not been released. Now this building is a ghost bungalow in the forest.

After the construction of the ground floor, the construction work of the first and second floors was started again in the year 2018-19 An estimated action plan was made, and the project cost was increased to Rs. 4.95 crore. But after the grant of Rs. 70 lakh in 2008-09, no government has released funds for the construction of the Excise Building.

Now, in the year 2023-24, the action plan has been made again through the Public Works Department for the further work of the building, and the project cost has increased to Rs. 6.50 crore. The remaining construction of the building, furniture system, water supply, sanitation system, electricity system, proper road, concrete drain, compound construction and other works are required.

Now, another increase of crores

As per the action plan of Rs. 6.50 crore, the current project cost has been estimated for the year 2023-24. Now, since two more years have passed, it is necessary to prepare the estimate again. This background plan has increased from Rs. 6.50 crore to Rs. 10 crore There is no need to be surprised even if there is an increase.

Letters have been continuously written to the government and the Excise Department for the past three to four years seeking funds to complete the building construction project, but neither the department nor the government has said "what is the point". It is a serious public question as to why the concerned departments and governments should undertake such projects.

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