Sambalpur: Allegations of Poor Construction of Sambalpur’s New Mandalia Rajghat

Sambalpur: Concerns have been raised over the poor construction work at the newly built state-of-the-art Rajghat (crematorium) in Mandalia, Sambalpur. Despite billions of rupees being spent on the project, issues surfaced just seven days after its inauguration, casting doubts on the quality of work.

The Rajghat, which was shifted from Kamalibazar to Mandalia as part of the Samaleswari project, was designed as a modern facility with multiple cremation stands, bathing facilities, an auditorium, beautiful gardens, and roads leading to the riverbanks. However, allegations of substandard work have emerged.

One of the major concerns is the condition of the iron cremation stands. Many of these stands have already started deteriorating, with rust visible on the iron pipes used in their construction. It is alleged that common iron pipes, which appear to have been sourced from scrap shops, were used instead of high-quality materials.

Furthermore, cracks have appeared in various areas of the Rajghat, including the roof, even before its official opening. While some repairs were carried out after complaints, water leakage during rainfall continues to be a problem, indicating poor construction quality.

Demands for a high-level investigation into the construction project have been raised, with calls for strict action against the responsible departments, officials, and contractors. Questions have been raised about the lack of oversight by the district administration and the Sambalpur Metropolitan Corporation during the project’s execution.

The Metropolitan Corporation Officer, who was in charge of the Rajghat construction, has remained tight-lipped about the allegations, fueling suspicions of attempts to cover up the poor work.

The situation has put the State Government under scrutiny, as allegations of low-quality work on a project it funded have surfaced. Residents and concerned citizens are seeking transparency and accountability from the authorities responsible for this significant public infrastructure project.