Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 19: Despite the passage of a decade , the Maternity-cum-Childcare Hospital (MCH) construction in the Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district remains incomplete, plagued by setbacks that have led to significant delays in its crucial completion.
With an estimated cost of approximately Rs 27 crore, the foundation stone for the 100-bed MCH Kangan was laid over a decade ago. However, progress on the facility has been slow, and it has yet to provide the essential services it was intended for.
Quresha Bano, a Sarpanch of Mammar village, lamented the prolonged construction process and emphasized that the hospital’s purpose has not been fulfilled despite substantial expenditure. She remarked, “Only the contractors have benefitted from it, not the people.”
Bano highlighted the difficulties faced by patients who are often forced to seek medical care elsewhere, underscoring the challenges faced by economically disadvantaged individuals who cannot afford private medical treatment. “The Government must ensure that the purpose of this hospital is served by making it operational without delay,” she said.
Residents pointed out that the hospital, meant to offer advanced maternity and childcare services to the area, has experienced numerous interruptions over the past few years. “The sluggish progress of construction has resulted in substantial delays in its completion; it stopped several times without reason,” they said.
Chowdhary Ata Muhammad, a Sarpanch of Chattergul, echoed the sentiment of prolonged incompletion and emphasized the hospital’s significance for a wide geographic area. “Nearly 80 panchayat halqas are dependent on this hospital,” he said.
He stressed the inconvenience faced by patients who have to travel long distances to alternative medical facilities, expressing frustration that despite substantial funds allocated to the project, “there seems to be no clear timeline for completion.”
District health officials acknowledged the sluggish pace of construction, attributing it to a shortage of funds. Dr Afroza Shah, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Ganderbal, concurred that financial limitations have impeded the hospital’s progress. She, however, indicated that efforts are underway to secure the necessary funds for the project.
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