The civic bodies that often cite lack of funding for the lag in developmental work in the city, are indulging in wasteful expenditure otherwise. The library building constructed at Panchavati ground in Binaki Mangalwari area is a glaring example of how civic bodies can ignore the money they have spent. A good move on the education front, however, remains unutilised even after so many years, which showcases the true face of ‘development’ in the second capital of the State. The ‘library’ building has been constructed by Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) in Panchavati ground in Binaki Mangalwari area in North Nagpur.

 

The double-storeyed building was constructed at a cost of Rs 35 lakh from local area development fund of Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). But even after a decade of its construction, the building has not been used for its intended purposes. And yet, nobody has been taken to task for wasting the public funds, nor anyone is keen to take the lead and ensure that the facility is opened for public use. This is the only library in this part of the area where there is now much awareness about studying for competitive exams. So, despite spending public funds, the benefactors, the citizens, continue to remain deprived of its utility.

 

And sadly, no one in the administration is bothered about the issue. Sheikh Shahanawaz, General Secretary, North Nagpur Youth Congress who has been consistently raising the issue of library with authorities said, “The library was constructed by NIT sometime in 2014 and 2015 and was to be handed over to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for its operations. However, the NMC administration was reluctant to take charge of the library for its cost of operation and maintenance, which is quite strange. The issue between NIT and NMC has not been resolved since then. On ground, if this is the situation, then one can very well imagine the level of co-ordination that is often desired by courts and citizens between the different agencies of the Government.” When contacted, the NMC official from the Library Department stated that, the building belonged to NIT and they were responsible for it.

 

The NIT officials could not be contacted despite several attempts. There is severe shortage of good library or reading room in Binaki Mangalwari area or in North Nagpur in general. The students here have to cover long distance in search of good library facilities inspite of having readymade facility available near their homes. The opening of the library will be useful to students from Binaki Mangalwari, but also those coming from neighbouring Bhushan Nagar and Majari areas. The library remains abandoned even after deputation submitted by several organisations. This apathy of the authorities towards already standing building is confusing when they are spending even more money for construction of new ‘E-libraries’ in the city. The condition of this library raises the question of possible fate of under construction libraries in the future.