DH News Service
UDUPI, April 16

Work on the Ambedkar Bhavan here has not taken off despite the foundation stone being laid for the same almost a year ago.

The Bhavan was to be constructed at a cost of Rs 25 lakh near Ambalwadi village close to Udupi. The building was to be built on 32 cents of land close to the Lamp Society. Though lot of promises are made during Ambedkar Jayanthi to uphold and protect the interests of the Dalit community, no move has been forthcoming as far as beginning work on the Bhavan is concerned. The foundation stone last year was laid by Legislator U R Sabapathi who at that time had promised the fund of Rs 25 lakh for the Bhavan, hailing it as a sign of helping the Dalit community. But after that promise, one has not seen any initiation of work.

As soon as Udupi was categorised as a separate district, the Zilla Panchayat, the City Municipal Council and the district administration urged the State government to look into the construction of the Bhavan. The State government had meanwhile taken up the project of setting up the Bhavan in every district. The then district-in-charge minister, Roshan Baig, Deputy Commissioner Gangaram Baderiyo, Zilla Panchayat President Keshav Kundar had lent a lot of support to construction of the Bhavan.

This year though, Mr Sabapathi has said that he would be discussing the issue with the Government as well as the district administration and ensure that some work takes off. Mr Sabapathi lent this assurance at this year’s Ambedkar Jayanthi.

The legislator has stated that a full-fledged bhavan at a cost of Rs 80 lakh will be built. The Government has released Rs 25 lakh towards the project. The hope is to approach MP’s Vinaykumar Sorake and Oscar Fernandes to mobilise Rs 10 lakh funds from the MPs fund, which could also be used for the development of the City. The legislator has also urged the district administration to appeal to the Government to extend the area of extent for the construction of the building as 32 cents was not adequate.