Udupi : Though the construction of the Mini-Vidhana Soudha has been completed at the present taluk office at Bannanje here this April, it has still not been occupied for the want of furniture.

According to sources in the district administration, an estimate of Rs.3.71 crore was submitted to the government a year ago for the furniture and also for external development works, including a compound wall, fixing of inter-locking tiles for the parking space, and landscaping.

B. Sadashiva Prabhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner, told The Hindu that the administration will follow up the matter with the Revenue Department.

The two-storey building Soudha has been built at an estimated cost of Rs.10 crore.

Its foundation stone was laid in January, 2017. The construction of the structure was done through the Karnataka Housing Board. As per the terms of the tender, the building is fully ready. The soudha will house the Tahsildar’s office, a courtroom attached to it, the offices of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, and Assistant Director of Land Records, a records room, a court hall, a meeting hall with a seating capacity of 200 persons, the offices of the legislators, and an election cell.

Meanwhile, there is a proposal to shift the Sub-Registrar’s office from the Old Zilla Panchayat building to here.

Though there was no provision for it in the original plan, there is enough space to accommodate it in the Mini-Vidhana Soudha.

The intention behind the proposal for the shifting is that it would ensure that people get all services under a single roof.