Research lab built at over ₹1 cr is now a poultry fodder store
A world-class research lab of India’s apex agriculture body has turned into a store for poultry fodder.
Built at more than ₹1 crore a few years ago, the lab in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit was supposed to be used by PhD students and other research scholars of the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR). Instead, it has no other use but storing fodder for poultry.
The reason: while constructing the world-class laboratory, ICAR and the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) didn’t make provisions for power and water supply.
On Monday, Parliament watchdog PAC stumbled on a CAG report that alleged major lapses in the construction of the lab. “Initially, the lab was planned in Delhi but for reasons unknown, it was shifted to Pilibhit. But what intrigued everyone in the panel is how the government’s two apex bodies (ICAR and CPWD) forgot to provide power and water supply,” said a member of the PAC.
“There were no clear answers. And both agencies were not forthcoming to take the onus for this disaster,” said another member.
At the PAC meeting, a few members even asked why the lab was shifted. The process led to escalation of costs by almost 100%, the CAG said in its report.
Both ICAR and CPWD have been asked to explain how public money was wasted even as key educational infrastructure was not built. Sources said the ICAR decided not to incur more money for power and water supply as expenses had already increased sharply.