Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Nov 24: The construction of new building for District Hospital Bandipora in North Kashmir is incomplete even after work was started almost 12 years ago with locals alleging political interference has delayed the project.
The locals of Bandipora said that Government’s failure to complete the project within stipulated time showed indifferent nature of the authorities towards the problems of the people. They said they were happy after the construction was started but because of Government’s lassitude, people have lost all the hopes.
“The new building is being constructed to provide better healthcare facilities to the residents, but the non-completion of this project has exposed the State Government’s claim of providing quality healthcare to the people of rural areas,” Mehraj Ahmad, a resident of Bandipora, said. As per official sources, with an estimated cost of 24.32 crores, the construction work on the prestigious project was started in the year 2000, but the scarcity of funds marred the project.
“The funds were never released on time and that delayed the project. But, if Government clears all the past liabilities and releases funds for the pending work on time the building will be completed,” they said. The locals explained that in the beginning, the construction was delayed by two years because of a tussle between two local groups over the site of construction.
“Two years were lost due to a tussle between two local groups. It also wasted some money as well,” Owais Ahmad, a local said, adding that both patients and doctors are suffering due to lack of space. As per locals, in absence of the much-needed structure, the hospital administration has converted the existing Sub District Hospital into District Hospital and that was affecting the effective delivery of healthcare in the area.
“The authorities have built some makeshift room in order to cater to the rush of the patients. The space constraint is affecting the functioning of the hospital. Unless new building is not completed the move to grant District Hospital to Bandipora is useless,” they said.
Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Dr Bilques, when contacted said that the project was in the final leg and would be completed by the end of this year, “The project is in the last stage and presently the construction of side room and finishing work is underway,” she said.
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