State Guest House turns into family quarters of officials
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 15 2011: Though meant for providing accommodation to officials visiting Manipur from other States and abroad, the only State Guest House under the Government of Manipur has been converted into family quarters for Government officials for the last three years.

The lone State Guest House has been constructed close to the Chief Minister's bungalow and quarters of the Ministers and MLAs in the high security zone Babupara from security point of view.

Earlier, all the visiting officials including Union Ministers used to be put up in this Guest House and discussion over Government formation after Assembly elections were held here.

When Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, visited Manipur, he even held a conference with the Deputy Commissioners in this Guest House.

The State Guest House is being operated under the General Administrative Department (GAD), Government of Manipur and so, the revenue generated from the stays of officials goes to GAD.

At one time, Rs 250 used to be charged as room rent for one night stay in a VIP room while the rent for other ordinary rooms was Rs 100 per night.

According to information received on the present condition of the Guest House, all the 28 VIP rooms are being occupied by top officials of the Government, who are using them like some sort of family quarters.

The restaurant which used to be operational at one time has remained shut for long and all the walls in the rooms, whether it is VIP or ordinary room, have become soiled from daily cooking activities of the occupants.

With all the available rooms having occupied by Government officials and their family members, no visitor could expect to get room to stay in the State Guest House today, the source disclosed.

There is a large conference hall in the State Guest House.

Private parties can utilize the said conference hall with the permission of GAD.

The rent for hiring the conference hall during day time is Rs 2,500.GAD is supposed to generate annual revenue of above Rs 20 lakhs from renting out the conference hall and the rooms.

It is said that all the officials who are staying in the State Guest House came with approval letters from GAD.

Some of the officials have stayed in the Guest House for over one year.

But at the time of leaving, they instructed that the bill be send to their respective Departments.

When contacted, a top official in GAD pointed out that the officials have been allowed to put up in the Guest House under a policy of the Government following threats and intimidation on their lives.

To a query, the official disclosed that it is not within the power of GAD make the officials vacate the Guest House or to carry out renovation work.

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