Mysore's library row gets murkier

MYSORE: The city centre library project, which has already kicked up a storm over its location in the city's prime park, seems to be heading for more trouble. 

The private firm, with which the department of public libraries had signed an agreement in 1994 to construct the library-cum-commercial complex, has petitioned the high court to allow it to implement the now revived project. 

The firm, now seems to be trying to fish in the troubled waters, argues that the agreement still holds significance as it was not explicitly cancelled by the government though it shelved the project. Meanwhile, the department of public libraries has made its stand clear that the project will not be utilized for commercial purposes which is one of the primary concerns of the activists opposing it. 

"There is clear directive from the government that the project should be taken up with public funding. We are following it. Now that we have taken up the long-pending project with public funding, the private firm which had signed the agreement earlier, has opposed it and approached the court. There will be no commercialization of the project," B Manjunath, deputy director of the department of public libraries told TOI. 

"We have got the notice and are preparing our case. We will intimate the court about the government's directive," he said and added that the groundwork will start from June end. 

BONE OF CONTENTION While the government dropped the library-cum-commercial complex project, it did not cancel the agreement signed with the private firm on May 25, 1994. 

The plan was to construct a complex on BOOT basis and transfer the property to the department after 30 years. The project is pending since 1984 after the government allowed 400 ft X 340 ft plot in the park to the department. While the activists are getting ready to create awareness about the importance of the People's Park which serves as lung space in the crowed central business district, the officials are moving in to secure the land by fencing the mega plot. 

"We are not against the library project. But we are opposing its location. Our awareness drive is to tell people the importance of the open space," Bhamy V Shenoy of the Mysore Grahakara Parishat (MGP), which is spearheading the 'save park' campaign, said. 

It is a prime property located in front of the KSRTC suburban bus stand which could be utilized for commercial gains. There are evidences to this as the officials included a commercial complex in the proposed library building, he said. The MGP is planning to file a PIL. 

Manjunath said it was a mistake that the department thought to house a commercial complex in the library but attributed it to lack of funds. 

According to officials, 50 per cent of the Rs 4.08-crore project will come from the library cess collected by the MCC. The rest will be funded by the state libraries authority.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Mysores-library-row-gets-murkier/articleshow/13834974.cms

Tardy pace of library construction in Shaheed Udyan (Varanasi) irks localites

VARANASI: The slow repairing work at the only library of Varanasi Nagar Nigam (VNN) in Shaheed Udyan in Sigra going on for more than a year, is creating trouble for book lovers and hundreds of morning and evening walkers. 

"Nothing could beat the pleasure of reading newspapers and magazines after a pleasant morning and evening walk in the park. However, the library is struggling and the morning and evening walks have lost the charm," said Shishir Kumar, a regular evening walker in the park. "Half of the summer vacations have already passed and the construction work is still crawling. Children, particularly those who cannot afford to buy expensive books, are losing an opportunity to have access to free reading," said Kritika, a tutor. 

The library specially meant for children has a capacity of over 8000 books which includes Hindi and English novels, children story books, books on science fiction and nearly 30 different editions of newspapers and magazines. The library gives an opportunity for people to read books without any fee or registration charges. 

According to an employee of VNN who looks after the library, after the continuous degradation of the library for over a year, the construction work started in Spetember 2011. "The construction in the library is still going on. The three reading rooms are badly in shape crammed with damaged furniture and bundles of books, leaving no space for the readers and even book racks to be adjust," he said. In 1987, when the library was established as children's library, the number of readers used to be around 100, which often increased to 150-200 during summer vacations. Since the building started getting dilapidated, the number of readers reduced sharply. At present, the construction is going on inside the library, leaving no space for readers to sit. The library is serving the morning walkers by making newspapers available outside the library. "In spite of the lack of space for reading, the library does not issue books to be taken to home," Abhishek, a morning walker said. 

According to additional municipal comissioner Sachidanand Singh, the construction is expected to get finished by the end of June.

source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Tardy-pace-of-library-construction-in-Shaheed-Udyan-irks-localites/articleshow/13832528.cms

Lack of funds delaying library complex project: J-K Minister

Srinagar, May 26 (PTI) The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said paucity of funds has delayed completion of the State of Art Library complex in the city even as it assured that the project will be completed very soon. "The construction work on the (State of Art Library) complex was started during 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs 17.34 crore, but due to paucity of funds it could not be completed within the time frame," Minister for Tourism and Culture Nawang Rigzin Jora said. Jora, who visited the upcoming Library complex at Moulana Azad road yesterday, said the Library Department would soon have its State of Art Library complex with modern facilities. Taking stock of the pace of the Library Complex work, the Minister directed the executing agency to re-double efforts to expedite work on the project for its time-bound completion. Jora said the Government has released over Rs 10 crore during last few years for its speedy completion, against which so far Rs seven crore have been incurred on the project. "The formulation of revised plan become necessary due to cost escalation," he said directing the executing agency to submit revised plan for approval of funds well in time. The Minister said after completion of the complex, the State of Art Library will have 60 cabins and a children centre with audio visual facilities would be linked with internet facility. He said the complex have also a space for three lakhs books and 8,000 manuscripts, besides play auditorium and Art gallery.

Source: Press Trust of India

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/lack-of-funds-delaying-library-complex-project-jk-min/1003715.html