Painting a sorry picture

Lakhs of rupees are being spent every year on the maintainance of various buildings owned by the state government.  Unfortunately, several of these buildings are lying unused, consequently transalating into wastage of funds.

The quarters provided for the Superintending Engineer of the Aluva Public Works Department is one such structure. This year also, maintenance work, including painting, was carried out at the building, spending lakhs of rupees.

People living in the vicinity of this sprawling bungalow say that it has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, and worse, a free-for-all area for reptiles like snakes and lizards, and tree-dogs, known as civets. The bungalow has remained unoccupied for a considerably long period now, with all the officers for whom it is meant, choosing to live elsewhere.

Despite this being the state of affairs, a significant amount was spent this year too, on the maintainance of the building, which is owned by the Buildings Department of the PWD.

It is also alleged that the bungalow has been a home for unsocial elements to carry out immoral activities during night-time.

Josey P Andrews, a social activist of the area, said that the government needed to take urgent steps to either put the house to constructive use or convert it into one of the government offices.

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