Wasted wealth: Rs 50-cr govt property near Palampur left to decay for 2 decades

Amidst a deepening financial crisis, the Himachal Pradesh Government is struggling to meet even its basic obligations such as paying salaries and pensions. This fiscal distress may partly explain why a government-owned property worth over Rs 50 crore near Palampur has been lying abandoned for nearly 20 years.

Over 30 residential quarters, built during the 1990s for the construction staff of the 15-MW Jia power project, now stand in complete neglect, 15 km from Palampur. The property, belonging to the Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB), is rapidly deteriorating. Most of the structures are crumbling, overtaken by wild vegetation and stripped of fittings by vandals and thieves.

According to local villagers, these double-storeyed houses were constructed for HPSEB field staff during the execution of the Jia hydro project. However, once the project was completed, the HPSEB abandoned the quarters, leaving them to rot. Despite their significant market value, estimated at over Rs 50 crore, no action has been taken to preserve or repurpose the buildings.

Information gathered by The Tribune reveals that HPSEB officials are fully aware of the situation. However, due to bureaucratic delays, the houses have neither been put to use nor handed over to another department. Dheeraj Dhiman, Superintending Engineer of HPSEB, said he had submitted a proposal to the HPSEB Chairman and the state government suggesting the buildings be repurposed. One recommendation was to install a solar power project on the unused land. Despite media attention last year, no steps have been taken and the proposal remains stalled with higher authorities.

When The Tribune team visited the site, they found the once-functional buildings in a dismal state. Cracks were visible in the walls, wild grass had taken over and windows and doors had been vandalised. Electrical fittings and fixtures were missing. Local residents claimed that not a single HPSEB official had visited the property in the past two decades.

In a state grappling with financial uncertainty, the continued abandonment of such valuable infrastructure raises serious questions about administrative priorities and asset management.