Haveri sub-regional science centre’s costs overrun by Rs 4.4 crore

Haveri: The Haveri Sub-Regional Science Centre’s construction was supposed to be completed in 2008. But it has not. This has led to costs increasing by Rs 4.4 crore and three time more than the original estimate.
In 2006, the government had given administrative approval for the science centre at an estimated Rs 2.6 crore. Construction work did not began on time and it started only in 2017 and the estimated cost increased to Rs 7 crore.
Interestingly, the government is yet to release funds for the project. The state government required fresh administration approval for a new estimation. People are waiting for this and they have rested their hopes on chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, who hails from the Haveri district.
MLC and KPCC working resident Saleem Ahmed said, “The construction of the Sub-Regional Science Centre was much delayed due to repeated change of its location. To my query in the house, the government replied that the estimation has increased drastically from Rs 2.6 crore to Rs 7 crore. Meanwhile, the district administration took more than 10 years to finalise the location and it identified in it 2016-17. The work started in 2017 but it has not been completed even after four years.”
He added that the district administration has sent a proposal for Rs 3.5 crore in 2021, but the government has not responded. “The government has neglected the project which will help children and people in Haveri,” Saleem alleged.
According to the project, it will have a wide gallery, laboratory, biodiversity, space and technology, and other science-related initiatives. It would feature a modern planetarium, activity centre, science gallery and a modern telescope. Arrangements would be made to teach scientific principles in an easy manner using special equipment to help develop scientific temper among youths.
“We are putting efforts to get administration approval for a new cost estimation of the sub-regional science centre. We will get it soon and complete it,” a Haveri district administration official said.
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Ongoing construction work of Haveri Sub-Regional Centre