Coimbatore: The residents of Kinathukadavu taluk on Monday demand the revenue department to open the new taluk office building that has not been used for more than 10 years.
Kinathukadavu taluk was formed by bifurcating Pollachi taluk in 2012. The taluk office is now functioning on the panchayat union office campus, along with several other government offices.
While work on the new taluk office building was started on a parcel of land belonging to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department in 2013 at a cost of 2.2 crore, it came to a grinding halt in 2014 after the HR&CE officials moved the high court regarding fair compensation for its land. While work on the building was almost completed, it was never put into use. Presently, the building is surrounded by thick vegetation.
“Functioning out of an old building, the taluk office is facing space constraints. There is adequate space in the new office building, which has not been put to use for around 10 years. Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be wasted. The revenue department should compensate the HR&CE department suitably and takeover the building,” said a resident of Kinathukadavu.
When contacted, a revenue department official said the HR&CE department had different norms for temple land. “They lodged a case citing low land value. The case is pending before court. We have fixed the land value based on the government norms and a file has been sent to the headquarters in Chennai in this regard. The problem will be solved once the value is finalized. The department is also allotted funds for the renovation of the new building that has not been in use for several years”.
Kinathukadavu taluk was formed by bifurcating Pollachi taluk in 2012. The taluk office is now functioning on the panchayat union office campus, along with several other government offices.
While work on the new taluk office building was started on a parcel of land belonging to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department in 2013 at a cost of 2.2 crore, it came to a grinding halt in 2014 after the HR&CE officials moved the high court regarding fair compensation for its land. While work on the building was almost completed, it was never put into use. Presently, the building is surrounded by thick vegetation.
“Functioning out of an old building, the taluk office is facing space constraints. There is adequate space in the new office building, which has not been put to use for around 10 years. Taxpayers’ money shouldn’t be wasted. The revenue department should compensate the HR&CE department suitably and takeover the building,” said a resident of Kinathukadavu.
When contacted, a revenue department official said the HR&CE department had different norms for temple land. “They lodged a case citing low land value. The case is pending before court. We have fixed the land value based on the government norms and a file has been sent to the headquarters in Chennai in this regard. The problem will be solved once the value is finalized. The department is also allotted funds for the renovation of the new building that has not been in use for several years”.