Ailing PSU’s hostel might house Jharkhand Assembly

In addition, about 400 bunglows and flats of HEC may be used as residences of the Jharkhand state babus — secretaries, joint secretaries, deputy secretaries and staff. These are to be acquired on lease from the HEC. The terms and conditions are being formulated by the state government and HEC officials.

As per the government plan, the residences and offices of the Chief Minister, ministers, chief secretary, the director general of police and a host of other staff of the Jharkhand secretariat might be located in other old structures at Ranchi, located just 8 km from the HEC town.

For instance, if the 1962 residence of the Bihar Chief Minister on the Kanke road is likely to remain unchanged for the Jharkhand CM, the residences of the Ranchi University Vice-Chancellor and the erstwhile Jharkhand Area Autonomous Council Chairman, which were erected by the British in early last century, might become the residences of the Chief Secretary and the DGP, respectively.

Top state government officials, including Finance Secretary Pratush Kumar and Home Secretary U.N. Panjiyar, have already inspected these structures and Ranchi Deputy Commissioner Sukhdeo Singh is preparing a project report for their repair, construction and beautification.

Originally constructed for engineers belonging to the erstwhile Soviet Union who had installed the HEC in 1963, the hostel remained a place of attraction till 1970. But after the engineers departed, it gradually turned into a ghost house.

Sometime ago, the HEC, in a bid to mobilise funds, brought out an advertisement offering to lease out the premises. Similarly, around 400 residences owned by the HEC had also fallen vaccant after the company pruned its manpower through the golden handshake scheme.

However, there haven’t been any buyers till now. If the Bihar government’s plans do work out, it would be a godsend for the sick company.