Rs 32 cr SDH Project took 10 yrs in ‘completion’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 14: Inaugurated by the then Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Vivek Bhardwaj last year, new Sub District Hospital (SDH) building at Akhnoor town in district Jammu, still awaits its operation in the new complex.
Constructed by the J&K Housing Board with the cost of Rs 32.31 crores, this building took about 10 long years for completion despite the fact that agency had been given just 24 months for completing all the works allotted including installations of lifts and providing power and water supplies.
Population of about 2 lakhs from Akhnoor, Jourian, Chowki Choura, Pargwal, Khour and Pallanwalla area, is feeling dejected/cheated as this new hospital with upgraded facilities and good parking space for staff and visitors, as compared to the old one located in a very crowded area, has not been made operational by the J&K Health Department, even after the e-inauguration by the then Additional Chief Secretary, Vivek Bhardwaj on May 9, 2022. The locals said that 3-4 times different dates were given for making this hospital functional but every time the dates were postponed due to the reason best known to the officers in the Department.
While the senior officers in Health department said that new SDH building was yet to be handed over to the department by the J&K Housing Board, the constructing agency, Executive Engineer JK Housing Board Division-II, Tilak Raj said that building was ready in all respects and even the Block Medical Officers Akhnoor and his staff has started shifting equipment and furniture from the old hospital. The lifts are functioning, minor changes in four Operation Theatres have been done, sufficient water tanks have been installed atop the building and it is ready for operation, except some power supply issue.
Replying to a question, JK Housing Board officer said that nearly Rs 25 crores have been spent on this building project worth Rs 32.31 crores. ” We have managed to save some money of the Government. The delay on the project has been caused due to power connection issue which is the responsibility and domain of the user agency- the J&K Health department. They have to apply for new power connection and as it is installed, the water supply, lifts etc shall also become operational,” he added.
Responding to another question, Xen said the project was sanctioned during 2012 and due to paucity of funds the work initially went on at slow pace at the project. Then it was brought under PMDP during 2018 and there after the pace of work improved. Most of the works were performed during last two-three years on this three- storey building with basement, he added.
Managing Director, J&K Housing Board, Dr Shabir Ahmed Keen when contacted said that the Akhnoor Hospital building in all respects has been completed. Besides ETP, Oxygen Plant has also been installed there. Director Health Services Jammu during his visit to hospital last month had pointed out minor changes which have been made and now there is no issue remaining except power supply, for which user agency/ concerned department has to apply for new connection. Housing Board has nothing to do with it. Surprisingly, PDD has sent us the power bill worth lakhs. This bill should be cleared either by the contactor or the user agency- Health department, the MD J&K Housing Board observed.
Managing Director further said that hardly 15 days ago, he had conveyed to the Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Salim-Ur-Rehman to take over the control of the Hospital building and he had responded positively. But thereafter, no communication has been received from their end, Keen said.
Chief Medical Officer, Jammu, Dr Harbaksh Singh when contacted said that constructing agency (JK Housing Board) has to clear Rs 15 lakh bill of Power Development Department. This is the power they consumed during construction of this new building. The PDD is not issuing new power connection for this Hospital till this old liability is cleared. The issue has been taken afresh with the senior officials of the PDD and the JK Housing Board. It is hoped that the matter would be resolved within a week’s time, he added.
The CMO further said that building has not been officially handed over to them yet by the JK Housing Board. About 50 % of the equipment and furniture of the old hospital has been shifted to the new hospital complex and the remaining is also being shifted. Singh claimed that within next one week the new hospital will be made operational at Akhnoor.
Meanwhile, former Minister and senior BJP leader, Sham Lal Sharma and ex-MLA Rajeev Sharma have said that the money saved out of this project should be utilized to increase further facilities at new hospital, including additional infrastructure, beautification with additional tower lights along entrance, green cover inside the complex with trees, benches for patients and attendants and creating sufficient parking site inside for visitors/attendants of the patients. They said that public of the area is eagerly waiting for the functioning of new hospital at Akhnoor town.
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