Bhagsu Cultural Centre at McLeodganj lies neglected
Raghav Guleria
Dharamsala, July 8
Bhagsu Cultural Centre, built at a cost of crores using funds of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in McLeodganj, is in a state of utter neglect and fast turning into ruins.
The centre built a few years ago was supposed to host international events, but has been lying locked for the past over four years. The government, it seems, has forgotten to put it to right use as the centre still does not have either electricity or water connection.
When it rains, water drips in the auditorium. The roof of the centre has developed cracks, raising questions on its construction. The building looks dilapidated, with its expensive paint starting to peel off and the wooden polish rotting. The lift of the building is non-operational and has started rusting.
McLeodganj, the world-renowned tourist destination near Dharamshala, desperately needed such a convention centre to host international events.
When it rains, water seeps inside and plays a havoc. The centre has a theatre, two cultural halls, kitchen, two lifts, six water tanks for water storage, a generator and fire equipment. Despite this, the government, administration, Tourism Department and local public representatives are not ready to take care of it.
According to Executive Engineer of Tourism Development Corporation Omprakash Bhatt, officials of Tourism Development Corporation have inspected Bhagsu Cultural Centre. He says a proposal has been sent to the Tourism Department for its maintenance. And after getting approval of the proposed amount, it will be repaired.
An office-bearer of the hoteliers’ association in Dharamsala told The Tribune, “The utter negligence of officials is getting exposed. This Centre was built so that tourists could get entertained by organising international conferences and other programmes in McLeodganj, but these objectives have remained confined to files.”
