 Early Times Report
Jammu, Jan 18: Ten years on, the sub-district hospital, Qaimoh, Shopian building awaits completion. Two elected governments and Governor's rule have made no difference.
According to documents in possession of Early Times, the then elected government had sanctioned new building of Primary Health Centre Qaimoh, Kulgam in the year 2003.
In the same year land was identified and was occupied by Health department in the year 2004 and the construction work was started. Moreover in the meantime, the people of Qaimoh and adjoining villages, demanded the upgradation of the PHC Qaimoh to Sub District Hospital Qaimoh, which was accepted by the then government.
In the year 2007, the PHC was upgraded to SDH to the tune of over Rs. 19 Crores. "The construction work on the basement of the building had started in the year 2003 and till 2010, pillars for the building were partially constructed", sources said.
Locals further said that since 2010, these half-constructed pillars have been mocking at the development claims of the successive governments as earlier the Kulgam constituency was represented by Peoples Democratic Party MLA and since 2015, Kulgam was represented by National Conference MLA.
"For the last over six months the state is represented by Governor rule but there is no change in the fate of building", locals said, adding that over 50,000 population of over 40 villages of adjoining areas depend on the SDH Qaimoh for treatment.
"The people have to move to Kulgam hospital or Anantnag hospital, which are 12 and 8 kilometers from Qaimoh, for treatment in absence of doctors at SDH Qaimoh", the locals said, adding that they had also called on Advisor to Governor two months back at Kulgam but so far there was no change.
An official of Health department said that earlier the project was under CapEx budget under which there was scarcity of funds and only Rs. 4 Crores was sanctioned. "The total cost of project is over Rs. 19 Crores and the project has been approved under PMDP", the official said, adding that the department had sanctioned over Rs. 5 Crores more for construction work in the month of June.
Executive Engineer of Roads and Building Kulgam Mohammad Sidiq said that they had only received the funds in the month of November. "We had called the e-tenders but there were not enough contractors due to which the tender was floated third time and now three minimum contractors had filled the tenders", Sidiq said, adding that the Chief Engineer office has been scrutinizing the technicalities of the tendering process.
He assured that soon the construction work of the SDH would start. |
