Minister's temple renovation promise unfulfilled, villagers aggrieved

Villagers of Nabinchhara-Depachhara area have expressed their resentment on Sunday claiming that Minister Santana Chakma’s promise of renovating a Buddha temple still remains unfulfilled. 

According to the locals, she promised financial assistance and renovation of the temple during the campaigns of her first election. 

The locals and devotees publicly expressed dissatisfaction over the condition of the temple, claiming that assurances made ahead of the 2018 Assembly elections were never implemented.

According to the villagers, the minister had promised construction of a new temple building at Pecharthal’s Nabinchhara-Depachhara locality along with financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for the project.

However, they alleged that the temple structure continues to remain incomplete, causing difficulties for devotees, particularly during the monsoon season.

“Before the elections, the representative personally visited the area and assured us that the temple building would be completed and financial support would be provided. But even after eight years, no work has started,” a local alleged while speaking to reporters.

Villagers claimed that repeated attempts to contact the minister’s office regarding the matter had yielded no result.

The villagers also objected to what they described as the “politicisation” of religious institutions and urged the authorities to honour commitments made to the local community.

“We do not want politics in the name of religion. If promises are made, they should be fulfilled. Eight years is a long time,” another resident said.