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Jharkhand MLAs to
stay in Russian Hostel!

If Lenin Hall houses the Assembly, Russian Hostel has been identified for the residence of 81 legislators. And, yes, you are not in Communist Soviet Union, but in the new state of Jharkhand, created in the name of tribals of south Bihar.

The two buildings belong to the Heavy Engineering Corporation, in Ranchi, the city that is to be the state's capital.

The Project and Consultancy Building, also on the campus, will have 11 departments, while eight core departments, including the office of the chief minister, chief secretary and cabinet secretariat will operate from Nepal House in Doranda.

The state government Tuesday handed over a cheque to HEC to spruce up the Russian Hostel and Project and Consultancy Building, while finishing touches to Lenin Hall were being given by the Public Works Department.

About 1600 HEC quarters have been requisitioned for the residence of officials and staff of Jharkhand state.

Ninety Ambassador cars have been ordered, but Hindustan Motors has assured 40 by November 10, while the rest will be sent by November-end. However, the company has reportedly sought an advance payment.

A purchase committee headed by the regional development commissioner has been formed to make purchases of vehicles and other items, such as furniture.

Expenditure on the new state capital would have been many times more had Ranchi no infrastructure. The city used to be the summer capital of Bihar during British rule and the practise continued till the 1960s. It has its Raj Bhavan, chief minister's residence and places to house some departments. There is already a Ranchi bench of the Patna high court.

There was a branch secretariat in Ranchi and during summer, the governor, chief minister, high court judges besides other departments used to be shifted there. Ranchi was preferred as the summer capital as it was a cooler. But massive deforestation has made it warmer.

The office of the Jharkhnad Area Autonomous Council operated from Audrey Hall. However, the PWD rejected the old building and it is likely to be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India. The Ranchi museum is likely to be shifted to this building.

Thanks to the sickness of the public sector undertaking HEC, Ranchi could get vacant buildings and land to house various offices, at least temporarily. Built with Russian help, HEC symbolises the decline of government undertakings.

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