Mysore/Mysuru: The new District Offices Complex (DC Office) at Siddarthanagar in the city is in a state of disuse. Cleaning is still a mirage for this imposing structure due to non-functioning of departments following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in March.

The new office has been built on a 15-acre land belonging to the German Press on the lines of Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel to match with the city’s heritage character, at a cost of Rs. 59 crore.

Chief Minister Siddharamaiah had inaugurated this building on March 10, 2018. Subsequently, several departments such as Food and Civil Supplies and Survey were shifted to the new building. Plan was to shift all departments in March this year but it did not happen due to outbreak of Corona pandemic.

Meanwhile, upkeep of this building has taken a back-seat with absolutely no sign of cleanliness anywhere. Empty plastic bottles and plastic covers are strewn everywhere. Weeds have grown in the compound indicating lack of maintenance. 

The 22,920 sq. mts building has a basement of 9,150 sq. mts, ground floor 4,720 sq. mts, first floor of 4,500 sq. mts and has a second floor of 4,550 sq. mts. No doubt, maintaining such a huge structure is not easy. But it is embarrassing for Mysuru, which has been winning awards in different categories, as the Cleanest City in the country. More importantly, office of the District Minister is also situated in the building where there is no sign of cleanliness. What is the message that the District Administration is trying to give to its citizens?

An iron gate on one side of the building is rusted. The sheets erected all around the building have fallen down. Anyone can enter the building during dark and indulge in nefarious activities due to absence of watch and ward. The District Administration spends lakhs of rupees on unimportant works and why cannot it deploy men to keep the building clean regularly. Need of the hour is to clear the weed and raise a garden. In the name of waiting for shifting of all the Departments to the new building, the authorities must not neglect this building which has been constructed out of tax payer’s money.