LAHORE, Jan 20: Only the basement and the pillars meant to support the first floor of the Lahore district council building located on Katcha Haider Road, Krishan Nagar, have been completed in 10 years.

Meanwhile, an amount of Rs56 million has already been paid from the project funds.

Twice, since the commencement of work in 1991, the project has come close to being abandoned. The work was stopped first during the construction of the basement when it was learnt that the contractor had received an advance payment of Rs20 million.

An inquiry was started against the then district council chairman, Chaudhry Shaukat Ali, and Engr Tariq Saeed. While the former chairman was said to have fled from the country, the engineer was tried for corruption and convicted. The contract was finally cancelled in 1996.

A new contract was awarded the same year for the construction of the building at a revised cost of Rs97.4 million. Work was stopped once again after the completion of the basement and the pillars due to suspension of payments to the contractor and dismissal of Nawaz Sharif government.

The new contractor is reported to have received Rs36 million so far but the construction is held up in view of an inquiry which began in 1999. The matter has now been referred to the National Accountability Bureau.

The local union council Nazim has, meanwhile, set up his office in a part of the site office meant to be demolished on the completion of the building.