Sanjeev K. Sharma
Jammu, Nov 24: Believe it or not but it is true that the unhealthy functioning of authorities at the helm have made a Government hospital building literally sick leaving the public to bear all the pain in the absence of required medical services.
At a time when the medical facilities have become something of utter importance, a nearly complete hospital building is left abandoned for the last some years at Gadigarh, on the outskirts of Jammu city.
With a cremation ground at its one side and Block Development Office at another, the hospital is at a stone’s throw distance from the Jammu Airport.
With a Government school just in front of the hospital building and a road with traffic not too heavy separating the two complexes, a visit there brought to fore much shocking views wherein the building was turning dilapidated due to absence of maintenance and proper care.
Bushes and other wild growth, poly-bags, gravel etc were seen everywhere around the hospital building while the entrance point, a grill-made gate, locked and a smashed glass door behind it.
Dumps of dust were lying on the floor with dusty walls etc.
There was a small section inside the premises with a board having ‘Department of Health and Family Welfare, Sub-Centre, Lower-Gadigarh’ written on it.
Some locals informed that this place is being used to immunize the children but doors were locked at the time of visit of this journo and none was present there.
“Medical facilities are the critical need of the public and we have to go to Gandhi Nagar Hospital for all type of medical aid while the hospital at our immediate neighbor only needs little efforts of the authorities to start services,” said 70 years old retired Army officer, T.R Sharma of Lower Gadigarh adding that the authorities concerned should immediately make the hospital functional to ensure public welfare.
He also informed that authorities concerned should do something in this regard as the abandoned building may easily become safe den of anti-social elements like drug addicts etc.
Sixty years old Daulat Ram, resident of Ruhi Morh, an employee of Military Engineering Services said, the hospital was a big public demand in the area and work on it was started when Sham Lal Sharma was Health Minister but unfortunately it is yet to be made functional for the public even after a lapse of many years.
“We all are concerned and are suffering due to delay in the start of medical services at the hospital,” he maintained.
Raj Kumar, 48, another local at Ruhi Morh having building construction business in the area, also echoed similar views.
Many more locals informed that steel pipes, covers of gutters etc have been stolen from the abandoned hospital building.
Unconfirmed sources informed that work on this hospital building started in the year 2008 and was completed in 2013-14.
When contacted, the Municipal Councillor of the area, Dr Yudhvir Singh said, he had met the previous Director Health Services, Dr Samir Mattoo with the demand to make the hospital functional but nothing fruitful emerged.
“Now, soon I will meet the new Director Health and other higher authorities with the issue,” he said adding even if then the hospital is not made functional then there will be an agitation for it.
When contacted Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Renu Sharma said, she has assumed the office just few days back and as such she has no idea of the issue.
However, she assured that she will definitely look into the matter and will talk to the construction agency as to why the hospital has not been handed over to the Health Department so far.
However, some locals on the condition of anonymity informed that a big private hospital nearby in connivance with some officials in the Health Department doesn’t want the Government hospital to start functioning in the same area as it will harm the profits of the private players.
To more surprise, near the hospital, there was another abandoned and semi-complete building of Revenue Complex, left to rot.
There is a Police Post in Gadigarh just opposite the Revenue Complex building where some cops on the condition of anonymity informed that water from a nearby nallah enters the police post and the semi-constructed Revenue Complex building during rainy season.
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