Dhanha (West Champaran), Nov. 8: Nitish Kumar’s Vikas Yatra in January 2009 has cast a shadow over his Seva Yatra beginning from tomorrow.

Unfulfilled promises made by the chief minister during his earlier yatra — undertaken from here in the past — are returning to haunt Nitish as he launches his campaign from Dhanha village in Madhubani block under Valmikinagar Assembly segment of West Champaran.

The foundation stones with Nitish’s name inscribed on them tell the story of unkept promises.

The chief minister’s Nyay Yatra, Vikas Yatra and Vishwas Yatra had begun from different places near Dhanha. But not only do a number of the chief minister’s declarations remain unfulfilled, several stone plaques fixed at the venues of their foundation have also mysteriously disappeared.

In the absence of any constituent college in or around Bagaha, the chief minister had laid the foundation stones for at least 10 public buildings — among them a college, a polytechnic institute and a stadium — during his Vikas Yatra undertaken from here in January 2009. But even after three years, most of the projects remain locked in government files, while their foundation stones have gone missing.

The projects have not been completed and the administration is now busy for a second foundation ceremony of the college as well as the polytechnic institute during the Seva Yatra, though at a different venue, Bargaon. A hostel has been added to the list.

On the pending and incomplete projects, Bagaha sub-divisional magistrate Raman Kumar told The Telegraph: “I have asked the district administration for money and I hope the projects will be completed once the fund comes in.”

Besides, 36 people, whose houses were burnt in an accidental fire a few days before Nitish’s 2009 yatra, have also not received the houses they were assured by the chief minister.

The victims are still waiting for their houses. They told this correspondent that they have been running from pillar to post over the past three years, but to no avail.

“How can we be enthusiastic about the chief minister’s visit?” asked Santosh Prasad, one of the victims at Patilar village.

The administrative preparations for the yatra, however, are on in full swing. Violating Supreme Court orders and flouting norms under the Indian Forest Act, even the Sashastra Seema Bal jawans on the borders were found busy digging soil from the prohibited areas under the Valmiki Tiger Reserve for dressing up damaged or dilapidated roads.