Questions Raised Over the Justification of the Construction Wing in Kangra Temples
The construction division created to oversee building work in government-controlled temples in Kangra district has turned into a white elephant. Now, its very purpose is being questioned. Here, paperwork is being manipulated without any actual work being done.
In Kangra district, the management of the Brajeshwari Devi Kangra, Jwala Devi, Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham, and Damtal temples lies in government hands. The maintenance of these temples is carried out by temple trusts under the supervision of the Kangra District Magistrate. Additionally, a dedicated construction wing was established to oversee construction work in these temples, and civil engineers were deployed there.
However, for the past few years, no construction work has been underway in these temples. As a result, the staff posted in the construction wing are drawing salaries without any work. A junior engineer is posted at the Jwalamukhi Temple, but he has neither any machinery nor any manpower. In such a situation, it is unclear what he is even doing there.
At the district level, an SDO (Sub-Divisional Officer) is also posted who regularly visits the temples every month and receives travel and other allowances. There have long been suspicions of irregularities in postings and promotions within the construction wing. No one knows what criteria were followed for promotions or when the DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee) meetings were held.
It is reported that the construction work under the master plan at Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham in the district is nearly complete. Currently, there is no scope for any further construction work there. Yet, a civil engineer remains posted there, despite having neither manpower nor machinery
Meanwhile, the state government recently announced funding of over ₹100 crore under a master plan for the Jwala Devi and Kangra Brajeshwari temples. This has raised questions about how the DPR (Detailed Project Report) and construction work will be executed. It is well known that the civil engineers posted in the temple construction wing lack experience and cannot handle such large-scale projects. The temples neither have adequate machinery nor manpower.
An argument is being made that the government should disband the temple construction wing and, considering future needs, assign any upcoming construction work to the Public Works Department (PWD) instead.
The construction division created to oversee building work in government-controlled temples in Kangra district has turned into a white elephant. Now, its very purpose is being questioned. Here, paperwork is being manipulated without any actual work being done.
In Kangra district, the management of the Brajeshwari Devi Kangra, Jwala Devi, Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham, and Damtal temples lies in government hands. The maintenance of these temples is carried out by temple trusts under the supervision of the Kangra District Magistrate. Additionally, a dedicated construction wing was established to oversee construction work in these temples, and civil engineers were deployed there.
However, for the past few years, no construction work has been underway in these temples. As a result, the staff posted in the construction wing are drawing salaries without any work. A junior engineer is posted at the Jwalamukhi Temple, but he has neither any machinery nor any manpower. In such a situation, it is unclear what he is even doing there.
At the district level, an SDO (Sub-Divisional Officer) is also posted who regularly visits the temples every month and receives travel and other allowances. There have long been suspicions of irregularities in postings and promotions within the construction wing. No one knows what criteria were followed for promotions or when the DPC (Departmental Promotion Committee) meetings were held.
It is reported that the construction work under the master plan at Chamunda Nandikeshwar Dham in the district is nearly complete. Currently, there is no scope for any further construction work there. Yet, a civil engineer remains posted there, despite having neither manpower nor machinery
Meanwhile, the state government recently announced funding of over ₹100 crore under a master plan for the Jwala Devi and Kangra Brajeshwari temples. This has raised questions about how the DPR (Detailed Project Report) and construction work will be executed. It is well known that the civil engineers posted in the temple construction wing lack experience and cannot handle such large-scale projects. The temples neither have adequate machinery nor manpower.
An argument is being made that the government should disband the temple construction wing and, considering future needs, assign any upcoming construction work to the Public Works Department (PWD) instead.
