90 per cent work completed, but community hall remains locked for 7 yrs

However, it is remaining stuck at that point and it remains locked. Now, the premises is being used by anti-social elements, residents complained, urging the officials to complete the work at the earliest.

Pointing out that there were no community halls in the locality that were available at affordable rates, the residents – most of them from tribal community and economically backward – had urged the authorities to build one in their neighbourhood.

Acceding to the request, the construction was taken up at a cost of Rs 20 lakh about eight years ago. But after nearly 90 per cent of the work was completed, it came to a halt where it remains stuck for the past seven years.

“When the construction started, we all were happy. But it was not completed. It has now become a den for anti-social elements who are using the premises to consume liquor every night,” said Shanthi from Old Perungalathur.

After the work was stopped, the officials used it as a godown to store the free mixers, fans and grinders that the government was distributing to the public. But a year ago, due to a fire triggered by a short circuit, all the equipment stored inside it were gutted.

After that, the building has remained locked, though the residents have repeatedly asked officials to complete the work and inaugurate the hall. In the meantime, the poor families who have to rent halls are forced to spend much more to pay the amount charged by private facilities. “If this hall is inaugurated, it would be benefit us greatly,” said Kumaresh, another resident.

Multiple attempts to contact the executive officer of Perungalathur N Ravikumar failed. A mid-level official from the town panchayat said that the hall will be inaugurated soon.