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Patna,(BiharTimes): Early this week the state Water Resources minister, Viyay Chaudhary, in an answer to the question of BJP MLA, Avinish Prasad Singh, conceded in the state Assembly that 300 police stations and outposts, many of them in the Maoists-infested area bordering Nepal, are without their own buildings and are running in rented house or somewhere else. This created storm in the Assembly with the BJP MLA himself saying that the law and order situation in the state is bhagwan bharose (at the disposal of God). It was an embarrassing moment for the state government as not only the opposition, but the treasury bench was attacking the government. |
However, the minister assurced that the buildings for the police station would soon be built.
It is difficult to say as to how long will it take for the police stations to come up, but one thing is clear the state government is in haste to get built a world class museum in Patna for which it had hired the service of a Japanese firm and 325-odd duplex for the legislators (including ministers) of the state. While the museum will cost something around Rs 360 crore an amount to the tune of Rs 307.73 crore will be spent on the houses for the elected representatives of the state Assembly. This means that each duplex would cost around Rs one crore.
With the state ministers now getting a salary of Rs 98,000 and MLAs and MLCs Rs 10,000 less it would be in the fitness of the things that they should live in flat costing Rs one crore. The state government has already abandoned Ambassador cars and the legislators now travel in much swanky and luxurious vehicles.
But the new generation legislators seems to have a difficult time these days.
After the December last cabinet decision these ladies and gentlemen have been asked to shift to a rented house so that their bungalows or flats could be razed to the ground before a new one comes up.
But they have been asked to shift to rented accommodation not exceeding Rs 20,000 per month. Many legislators feel that the amount is a bit on the lower side. Besides, they are finding it extremely difficult to get rented house in residential areas as the track record of many of these elected representatives comes in the way.
Once again in the absence of opposition, which has virtually been decimated, it is the ruling NDA legislators who are critical of the government’s decision to do away with all the flats in one go. It is not easy to get 325-odd flats in upscale colonies of Patna at Rs 20,000 and that too at the same time.
The problem with the legislators is that they do not live alone, but they have their own security personnel, whose strength too have been increased after the killing of the then BJP MLA of Purnea, Raj Kishore Kesri, by a school principal, Rupam Pathak, who charged him of sexually exploiting her. Besides, there is non-stop flow of people from their respective constituencies, many of them patients and their attendants. Thus hardly anyone is interested in giving his or her flat on rent to them.
The duplex complex with two hostels, community centres, clubs and other facilities would be constructed on 69.75 acres of land located at three places in R-Block, Daroga Prasad Rai Path and Beer Chand Patel Path.
R-Block would have 175 duplex bungalows, Daroga Prasad Rai Path would have 128 houses and the Beer Chand Patel Path 28.
But there are many who are prepared to suffer the hardship for a couple of years as they are sure that the future accommodation would be much better. But it all depends whether they are re-elected or not.
Finally, there are many who are not bothered about living as a tenant as they have earned a lot and can easily buy a flat in Patna. They would shift to the duplex after they are constructed.
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