Beant Singh Memorial in a shambles

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 8

From Monday onwards, the power supply to the Beant Singh Memorial and Chandigarh Centre for Performing and Visual Arts in Sector 42 may be snapped due to the non-payment of electricity bills since April.  

Internet and telephone connections have already been snapped while the water supply is also likely to be discontinued for the same reason. Employees at the memorial said the Electricity Department had issued several reminders in the past and warned of snapping the power connection on Monday.

 The employees also claimed that they had not been paid salary for the past three months. The non-payment of dues to the Horticulture Department has resulted in the growth of weeds. As per estimates, the pending dues towards the Horticulture Department stand at Rs 13.25 lakh.

 Project director Capt Karnail Singh said he knew about the issue and would get it resolved in a couple of days. “I have asked the Superintendent of the memorial to give an explanation in written about the non-payment of dues. I will get the issue resolved in a day or two,” he added. 

Superintendent Vijay Kumar, who is on leave till Tuesday, admitted that the dues could not be cleared due to his carelessness but refused to comment further.

Jaswinder Singh, an officials from the Electricity Department, said they would follow a proper procedure while dealing with the issue. “We will snap the connection, if pending dues are not cleared by the time the next bill cycle is completed,” he added.

The project was started in 1999 in the memory of former Chief Minister Beant Singh. Marred by delays, it was finally inaugurated in October, 2008, by the then UT Administrator SF Rodrigues. The project was funded by the UT Administration and the Punjab Government. The project includes the construction of six buildings, of which only one is complete as of now.