KASUR, Aug 25: The mega project of the reconstruction of Hazrat Baba Bulleh Shah’s shrine to facilitate the devotees has met with an inordinate delay, thanks to the indifference of the authorities concerned. The Sufi poet’s annual Urs is beginning on Saturday (today).

Conceived in 2001, the project which included expansion of the shrine’s courtyard from 75 square feet to 500 square feet, construction of a well-equipped conference hall, a guest house and a Bulleh Shah complex like the one at the shrine of Hazrat Waris Shah has not been completed even after five years.

Sources said the project was scheduled to be completed in two years but the dream of devotees had not been materialised owing to alleged corruption of the Auqaf department officials who after one year of its inauguration refused to give any amount for the reconstruction without giving out any solid reason for that.

However, the then prime minister, Zafarullah Jamali, and the chief minister had during their visit to Khudian announced Rs30 million for the project from their funds. But the amount proved too meager to carry out the mega project.

Sources said the department was actually interested in the construction of a shopping complex the tender for which were passed after receiving a heavy commission of 30 per cent from the contractors.

Later, the shops were auctioned to the associates and acquaintances of the officials. The shopkeepers on the eastern side of the shrine were altogether ignored and made to sacrifice their shops to give way to the expansion of the shrine.

The Auqaf officials, alleged sources, auctioned each shop at Rs300,000 despite the fact that some bidders offered Rs800,000.

Governor Khalid Maqbool had during his visit to the Gulzar House at the Chehlum of former district nazim Rana Imtiaz’s father ordered cancellation of the auction but to no avail. Later in response to the public protests, the governor ordered an inquiry and found the malpractice. However, only the Auqaf manager was transferred and the shops were auctioned to the dear ones of the officials.

The mosque was supposed to be completed in one year but it is still incomplete. It is alleged that substandard material has been used in the construction work.

Sources said the contractor had left the work after the expansion of the courtyard.

Social circles, trade organisations and devotees have demanded that the president should take stock of the situation and order action against the officials responsible for the inordinate delay in the mega project.

They say heaps of building material lying around the shrine and the rubble of the old Auqaf office at the very entrance of the shrine will leave a bad impression on the foreigners who pay homage to the saint at the Urs.