Building for library remains unused

STAFF REPORTER, THE HINDU-At Rs. 20 lakh, the Coimbatore Corporation has built a building on Alagannan Vth Street, Saibaba Colony, that is supposed to be used as a library. It has been over a new year now after completion and the building is as new as it was after construction as no library has been established. The residents have been waiting for a library for long, says Ward 11 Councillor M. Ravindiraraj. He raised the issue with the Corporation authorities and also the District Library Authority. The latter said that it would be able to run a library provided the Corporation handed over the building.

The Corporation, on its part, first fixed a monthly rent of Rs. 12,500. The Finance and Taxation Committee reduced it to Rs. 3,000 and the Council to Rs. 1,000 following appeals from elected representatives and the public that the civic body should not look at commercial interests in fixing rent for libraries.

Meanwhile, the premise is short of maintenance. Fallen twigs and leaves are everywhere. The pews that have been placed are full of dirt and dust. In the evenings, the place turns a haven for anti-social elements, the Councillor rues. He says that now the District Library Authority wants the Corporation to waive the monthly rent, which, the civic body says, is not possible. And the logjam continues. Rent is the only issue that threatens the establishment of the library. For issues such as furniture, patrons, etc. all arrangements have been made.

Efforts to reach the District Library Authority failed. The Coimbatore Corporation under Mayor S.M. Velusamy recently announced that the Corporation would establish a library in each of the 100 wards. It was also one of the announcements made on the eve of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa's birthday.

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