Built 15 years ago, unused PWD building left to the elements

The office of the PWD AE was built near the Kosathalaiyar river in Jagannathapuram village on the land owned by the PWD. Locals said the building was constructed to house a PWD office near the Kosathalaiyar river where illegal sand mining and other activities were rampant. The office was also supposed to ensure that pollutants were not discharged into the river and also to monitor flood mitigation activities.

“After several complaints, the PWD decided to construct the building in the early 2000s. The building was also inaugurated, but has not been used since,” said B Kumar, resident of Ponneri.

The people here noted that the government had spent lakhs of rupees of public money and built an office for the welfare of the people. “Now, the present condition of the building is so bad that it needs to be demolished and rebuilt. This building has become the haven of the anti-social elements who have broken the doors and windows and even sold it,” said another local resident on condition of anonymity.

He also charged that the lack of interest in maintaining the office showed that officials were not keen on the upkeep of the Kosathalaiyar river which is also in a bad shape.

When Tiruvallur district PWD officials were contacted regarding the unused building, they refused to comment stating that since the building was set up 15 years ago, they weren’t aware of why it wasn’t used.

Speaking to DT Next, Tiruvallur Collector R Maheshwari said that after the issue of the unused building was brought to her notice, she had ordered district officials to inspect the construction and file a report. “We have also contacted the senior PWD officials to find out why it has not been put to use. After we get a response and a detailed inspection of the premises, we will take appropriate action,”the collector said.