Thanjavur: A community hall constructed at an outlay of Rs 10 lakh at Karanthanttangudi near here has turned into a haven for anti-socials. Worse still, constructed about 12 years ago, it is yet to be unveiled for reasons best known to the authorities.

The community hall was constructed in Karanthanttangudi, popularly known as Karandhai, by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) from funds allotted by the then Thanjavur MLA and former Minister for Commercial Taxes S N M Ubayadullah.

“It has become a haven for anti-socials, who indulge in various activities like drinking and gambling. As there is no watchman in the building, the anti-socials bring call-girls under the cover of darkness too. It has now turned a nuisance to the residents of this area,” R Chembien, a resident, complained.

According to A Jayaraman, a resident of the area, there was a municipal run elementary school on the site since 1936. It was later turned into a balwadi which too has now been shifted to some other area. “I too studied in the elementary school from 1952-1957,” Jayaraman reminisced.

“During the 2005 floods, people evacuated from flood-affected areas were sheltered here for several days. After that, no steps were taken by the authorities to put it to public use. It is a capital as well as revenue loss to the government,” Jayaraman said.

According to a senior official in Thanjavur City Corporation, “It has only a hall and a stage, no other facilities. The then minister Ubayadullah visited the building some time back and promised to allocate the required funds. But nothing has been allocated.”

The official also said that the hall, constructed by DRDA, was not yet handed over to the corporation.

P Manthrachalam, Project Director, DRDA, however, expressed ignorance of the issue as he is ‘a new comer’. He, however, assured that he would look into the issue and take required measures to put the building to public use.