Mysuru:  The work on the nearly Rs.5 crore new building of the City Central Library at People’s Park has come to a standstill due to lack of funds. 

The State Government had sanctioned Rs.4 crore and the Department of Libraries Rs.25 lakh. However, there is shortage of grant for the remaining portion of the work.

In the 340 ft X 400 ft premises in People’s Park, nearly 75 percent of the work has been completed. In the final stages, the work on the interiors, furniture, lawn and compound had to be completed. Now they are facing fund crunch. Hence, the final completion work has come to a standstill.

The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) owes the library cess of Rs.18 crore to the Department of Libraries. Though it has collected this amount, it has not been remitted to the Department in spite of repeated reminders. 

If the cess amount that is due to the Department is given, then the work on the massive structure can be completed at the earliest. 

The Chief Librarian of City Central Library Dr. B. Manjunath, who is also the Deputy Director of the Department of Libraries, Mysuru District, says that they have been waiting for the funds so that they can complete the remaining work at the earliest.

The Chief Secretary has directed the Principal Secretaries to release the labour cess. Principal Secretary Umashankar called me and directed me to release the library cess that is due to the Department. We will look into the matter and depending on the funds we require, we will release the grant according to law, said P.S. Kantharaju, in-charge Commissioner, MCC.

MCC had to release Rs.18 crore due to the Department of Libraries and recently MCC Commissioner Shilpa Nag (who has gone on leave) had released Rs.50 lakh. However, if the remaining amount is released it will help us complete the work and also serve the people. This will also help us give better facilities to the public in the future, said B. Manjunath, Deputy Director, Department of Libraries, Mysuru District.