JK Govt rubbishes media report on CM's residence expenditure

Srinagar, Jun 11 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government today termed ''highly exaggerated and malicious propaganda'' a media report suggesting that huge expenditure had been incurred on the renovation of Hari Niwas building, meant to be the Chief Minister's residence.

In a statement here, the Director Estates denied the report carried by a section of media regarding the huge expenditure incurred on the renovation of Hari Niwas building here.

He described the media report as ''highly exaggerated and malicious propaganda'' against the state government.

''The figures quoted in the report are highly exaggerated. In fact during the tenure of then Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, the Chief Minister's designated residence at Maulana Azad Road was declared unsafe on security grounds,'' the Director clarified. As a consequence of which, a site was selected for construction of the Chief Minister's residence near Hari Niwas building, he said.

The Director further said the initial estimates for construction of an independent Chief Minister's residence was approximately more than Rs 15 crore.

The construction work was taken up but subsequently abandoned because of the intervention of the High Court, he added.

''In light of this, the state Cabinet decided to convert the Hari Niwas building, being used as CID Headquarters, into a full-fledged Chief Minister's residence, a guest house, a private office of the Chief Minister and a Cabinet Hall,'' the Director said.

Therefore, he said the Estates Department took up the task of renovation of the building and its conversion into the full-fledged Chief Minister's residence-cum-private office.

''The media report is nothing but a malicious propaganda. The total amount spent so far on the renovation of Hari Niwas building is only Rs one crore and the estimated cost may go up to Rs 4-4.5 crore, including the amount already incurred. It is reiterated that no fresh construction has been taken up at the site. Only the existing structure is being renovated to make it suitable for use by a person of a stature of a Chief Minister of a state,'' he said.

UNI