Minister seeks clarification on renovation work

Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar has asked Agriculture Secretary C Paulrasu to not approve the agenda item regarding the repair and renovation of the old building of Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board in the Board of Directors meeting held here today. “It was brought to my knowledge that Rs 50 lakh was approved for the work, but the cost escalated to Rs 90 lakh. So, I’ve asked the Secretary to check the facts threadbare and to not approve the item before apprising me of it,” Kumar said.

The minister said he had asked the Secretary to check what the tender was for, and how the cost had escalated. Officials are tight-lipped over whether the item was approved or not in the BoD meeting. Sources in the marketing board said the administrative and expenditure approval for deviation in work had been taken from the competent authorities.