February 2012: Former industries minister Renu Kumari announced “Patna Haat” on the lines of Dilli Haat

December 2012: Renu said Patna Haat would become a reality by March 2013

July 2014: Bhim Singh given charge of industries. He announced Patna Haat would be a reality soon

September 2014: Singh said Patna Haat would come up on the premises of Patliputra-based Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan and it will give special preference to women artists

In between all the assurances and dialogues, the fact remains that neither the industries department nor its building construction counterpart know when the project will see the light of the day.

The departments don’t refrain from pointing fingers at each another when asked about the status of the project.

Ashok Kumar Sinha, deputy director, Upendra Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan, said they had paid Rs 2.14 crore to the building construction department for the project two years ago.

“However in 2013, the building construction department gave the money back to us. No development has been made in the project. Around three months ago, we forwarded the money to the Bihar State Building Construction Corporation Limited (BSBCCL), a subsidiary of the building construction department. They should be aware of the project,” Sinha said.

“Patna Haat would be based on the model of Dilli Haat. Stalls selling products of Bihar artists would be put up,” Sinha said.

The idea is to encourage rural artists to showcase their talent, product and culture. At present, the artists of Bihar do not have a permanent market to promote their products. Most artists live in remote villages in poverty and middlemen mint money through the sale of their products.

C. Kaushal, general manager (headquarters), BSBCCL, said they had prepared a preliminary project plan but were waiting for a nod from the industries department. “A preliminary plan has been sent to the industries department around three months back but they are yet to give their nod. We are yet to get the money from the department. We had earlier decided that it would be a G+1 facility. But now it would come up on the ground floor. It is difficult to mention a date when the project will start,” he said.