| Night shelter at DH Kathua: 3 yrs on, DPR yet to be finalised | | | G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 15: Former Health Minister Bali Bhagat had laid foundation stone of night shelter for attendants in District Hospital Kathua in 2016, but even after three years there is no progress in the project.
During the stone lying ceremony on October 2, 2016, the then Health Minister who was accompanied by local Member Legislative Assembly, Rajov Jasrotia, had announced that the building would be constructed at a cost of Rs 1 crore and that construction would be completed in two years.
"Ironically, however, even after lapse of more than two years, the department concerned has not even prepared the Detailed Project Report for the night shelter home at DH Kathua. The department has not released a single penny so far. Hence the project exists on paper only", said sources.
The foundation stone was erected just near the parking slot of the hospital and it clearly mentions that the funds would be utilized under the Centrall-sponsored Deen Dayal Upadhaya scheme. But surprisingly, neither the minister concerned nor the MLA had sent any communiqué to the Union government for release of funds under the scheme.
"However, on the foundation stone, the Health department has mentioned that the construction agency, Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) would execute the construction work", sources said.
The attendants are struggling to find space during night hours or are being forced to sleep on balcony of the wards, said a doctor of the DH Hospital Kathua.
When this reporter contacted officials of JKPCC, they said on the condition of anonymity that during the foundation stone lying ceremony, the then Health Minister and then local MLA "initially pressurized us to take the project on priority basis for execution, but they did nothing in this regard." |
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