PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES OF BIHIA EXPRESS DISPLEASURE OVER LACK OF NOTIFICATION

PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES OF BIHIA EXPRESS DISPLEASURE OVER LACK OF NOTIFICATION

26-AUG-ENG 17

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------A *Bhoomi Pujan* (ground-breaking) and foundation-laying ceremony was organized on Tuesday for the construction of a new building for the Bihiya Block-cum-Circle office in the district. The proposed building is set to be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹11,10,44,776. Local MLA Rakesh Ranjan formally inaugurated the project by performing the customary *Bhoomi Pujan* (ground-breaking ritual) and unveiling the foundation stone plaque. It is worth noting that the construction work on the building is already underway.

However, the event became mired in controversy when local public representatives expressed deep dissatisfaction over not being informed about the program. Significant resentment was observed among the representatives because the contractor had failed to share prior information regarding the event.

Reacting to this, Deputy Chief (Up-Pramukh) Mukesh Singh clarified that he had received no official notification about the event. He stated that he learned about the program's conclusion through others, which he described as extremely disappointing and regrettable. He alleged that the event was treated as a program for a specific political party and kept limited in scope, resulting in the neglect of local public representatives.

Similarly, Shiv Kumar Yadav, the Mukhiya (Village Head) of Kateya Panchayat, raised strong objections and condemned the incident. He remarked that the failure to inform public representatives and relevant officials about the foundation-laying ceremony for the Block-cum-Circle office demonstrated the contractor's arbitrary conduct. The Mukhiya also mentioned that upon discussing the matter with other colleagues, he discovered that no one had been given prior notice of the event.