Tehri – Serious negligence has come to light in the maintenance of the Shri Dev Suman Government District Library near the clock tower in Baurari, where around 7,000 books of historical importance were destroyed by termites. The library, shifted from old Tehri, once housed nearly 49,169 rare books and manuscripts, many of them over a century old.
Despite being upgraded into a hi-tech facility with computerisation and Wi-Fi connectivity, the preservation of priceless literature remained poor. According to official records, more than 17,000 books were shifted and dumped at a dormitory of the Youth Welfare Department near the stadium, raising further questions on the handling of literary heritage.
The matter surfaced through information sought under the RTI Act by historian Mahipal Singh Negi. In the reply, the library authorities stated that around 7,000 books were declared unusable due to termite damage. It was also confirmed that 17,169 books were kept in the dormitory premises, while nearly 5,000 books were distributed to government schools after segregation.
Following these developments, the total number of books left in the district library has come down to nearly 20,000. Historians have termed the situation alarming, stating that the 102-year-old intellectual heritage of old Tehri is being systematically destroyed due to administrative apathy.
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Taking note of the issue, District Magistrate Nitika Khandelwal reportedly expressed strong displeasure and directed the Chief Development Officer to ensure digitisation of all remaining books. Instructions were also issued to preserve the historical collections within the library premises itself to prevent further loss.
