Government spends Rs 80 crore in 5 years to maintain VVIP samadhis

DNA: New Delhi: Monday, 01 December 2014.

The government has spent a whopping Rs 80 crore since 2009 to maintain VVIP samadhis. In an RTI filed by dna, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) that is responsible for maintaining the Samadhi Complex in Delhi has revealed that these expenses were incurred to maintain plush lawns, electrical supply and security.

The Samadhi Complex spread over 245 acres of land along the bank of Yamuna on Ring Road in Delhi has nine memorials including that of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru along with those of other former presidents and prime ministers of India.

To carry on the routine maintenance of lawns and mechanical and electrical work at Raj Ghat alone, the CPWD has spent almost Rs 10 crore in five years. The samadhi of the Father of Nation is spread over 44.35 acres of land. Of the Rs 10 crore, the department has spent about Rs 7.5 lakh just on maintaining the lawn and give salaries to the staff maintaining the lawn.

Like the Raj Ghat, the Shanti Van also has an annual maintenance of over Rs 2 crore. The Shanti Van is the samadhi of Jawaharlal Nehru. On Shakti Sthal, the memorial for Indira Gandhi, an amount of Rs 5 crore has been spent in five years.

Besides, the samadhis of former prime ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rajiv Gandhi, Charan Singh and IK Gujral are also situated in the complex. The samadhis of former presidents include KR Narayanan, Giani Zail Singh, Shankar Dayal Sharma. Samadhis of former deputy prime miniser Babu Jagjivan Ram and his wife and that of Sanjay Gandhi are also located in the area.

"Our staff is stationed inside the complex round the clock. Two men from the electrical and mechanical wing and one from horticulture permanently stay inside. The others work through the day," said an officer of the CPWD.

For Raj Ghat, the department has a separate dedicated team. "Raj Ghat has the maximum number of visitors including tourists, politicians and international dignitaries. To maintain the samadhi we have a dedicated team," added the officer.

The CPWD also has an annual expenditure of Rs 8 crore for securing the complex. 150 men from the CRPF headed by a deputy commandant of CISF are responsible for security.