10 years on, Nagrota Surian tehsil office yet to take shape
Despite the foundation stone for a sub-tehsil office building having being laid nearly a decade ago, the construction work in Nagrota Surian remains stalled, forcing officials to operate from a dilapidated and unsafe structure. The office, upgraded to a full-fledged tehsil in 2021 under the previous Jairam Thakur government, continues to function in two cramped rooms of an old Gram Panchayat Bhavan, risking the safety of employees and visitors.
The foundation stone for the proposed building was laid by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on February 17, 2015, yet not a single brick has been laid since, despite land being transferred to the state revenue department. The delay has led to growing resentment among the residents of Nagrota Surian tehsil, who have been demanding immediate action. Adding to the woes, the local patwar circle office also operates from another dilapidated room in the same structure.
Overcrowded, unsafe conditions
Currently, the tehsil office functions in two small, crumbling rooms. One room accommodates the seven-member office staff, while the second serves as the Tehsildar’s chamber. There is no seating arrangement for visitors or advocates, forcing them to wait outside in the open. Several locals, including Jatinder, Som Nath, Gurmeet, and Suresh, expressed frustration, highlighting how the lack of a proper office building is causing hardships for both the staff and the public.
Officials acknowledge safety concerns
Nagrota Surian Gram Panchayat Chairperson Rajini Mahajan confirmed that the panchayat had already issued a no objection certificate (NOC) to the revenue department for the identified land. Meanwhile, Tehsildar Shikha Patial admitted that the current office has been declared unsafe. She revealed that the government recently proposed constructing a new office building on the same site after demolishing the old structure. Until then, the office will be shifted to a vacant government school building, with necessary repairs being carried out before the move.
With the residents growing increasingly impatient, the demand for an immediate start to construction continues to mount, as officials and the public alike struggle with the current inadequate and hazardous working conditions.
