It's official now: 1, Anne Marg is CM residence

PATNA: It is official now. The sprawling and fortified house located at 1, Anne Marg, has been notified as chief minister's residence. Building construction minister Monazir Hasan issued the notification earmarking the house, which had been in news for bad and good reasons for the past one and a half decade, for CM residence. "Bihar had no house earmarked for the CM even though chief ministers had been living in the house since long. So the government decided to earmark this house for the CM residence," Hasan told TOI from Bhagalpur where he was busy stumping. Hasan said no house other than the Raj Bhavan is earmarked here. The assembly Speaker and legislative council chairman houses too are only "understood" and not earmarked. The government, he added, was considering to earmark those two houses too. CM Nitish Kumar after entering the 1, Anne Marg residence, when the previous occupant Rabri Devi, after much hue and cry and reluctance moved out, had declared to make it a permanent CM house. Both Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, who stayed in that house for about 15 years, had raised objection when served notice to vacate the house which was not earmarked as CM residence. Once the couple vacated that old-fashioned spacious house standing in midst of three green fields and spread over about six acres of land facing Raj Bhavan, Nitish got the "khatal" built in one corner removed and raised a new structure where "janata ka durbar" is held. Lalu-Rabri had been keeping a large number of cattle there. In the rear portion of the campus where Lalu had built an outhouse for himself, which was later further extended, has now been remodelled and converted into conference hall and research centre with a huge gate separating it from the main building. On the sidelines of the "khatal" were sheds to park Lalu's favourite raths and also a stable for the pet horses. Now this place has made way for the public relations office. On way to "janata ka durbar", which has been separated from the main campus by high walls, one corner has been earmarked for herbal plantation ground. It has been made a good green herbal spot having swaying plants and flowers where one enjoy the fragrance wafting out all the way. "The atmosphere brings harmony to mind, body and soul," said Nitish who had suggested herbal plantation. "I have also asked to plant more varieties here. After all, this will remain the CM house and its products will be the property of government," he told TOI while strolling on the sidewalk.