*Work going on at snail’s pace
Govind Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 8: The 100-bedded Sub District Hospital (SDH) being constructed at Kot Bhalwal is set to miss its deadline of May 2020 apparently due to slow pace of work carried out by Jammu Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCC).
The foundation stone of the 3-storey building of the Hospital which was to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 21.93 crore under Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP), was laid in August 2016 by the then Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat alongside the existing building of Primary Health Centre (PHC), Bhalwal while announcing the latter’s upgradation.
While laying foundation stone of the building, Bali Bhagat had announced that the 3-storey 100-bedded Sub District Hospital will be completed within three years, benefitting a population of about 40,000 of Bhalwal Block and its adjoining areas which will ease out rush in Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu and Sub District Hospital Sarwal, besides providing specialized treatment to the people of Block Bhalwal at their door step.
Official sources told Excelsior that the project was taken up by the JKPCC in March 2017 and May 2020 was set as deadline for completion of the project but despite smooth funding from the Centre, even civil work could not be completed. Meanwhile, on May 11, 2018, the Cabinet chaired by then Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also accorded formal sanction to the upgradation of PHC Bhalwal into Sub District Hospital and creation of additional 32 posts including doctors and paramedics for the upgraded hospital.
According to the sources, the target was set for executing agency to complete the project within three years but till date only 80 percent civil work has been completed and several works including flooring, tiling and plastering are still pending though there was no constraint of funds during this period. However, sources said that the work was disrupted last year for about 2- 3 months due to shortage of sand after the district administration imposed ban on mining along Tawi and Chenab rivers in Jammu.
“It is impossible to meet the deadline as pending civil works will take at least 4-5 months for completion even if the executing agency accelerates its working pace. After completion of civil works, electric and mechanical works will be taken, which will further take at least 6-7 months. It means the hospital building will be ready for use after one year from now that too if everything goes on smoothly,” sources said.
They further informed that out of the 32 posts created for the SDH, only posts of consultants/doctors has been filled while non-gazetted posts including posts of paramedics and laboratory technicians are yet to be filled, which is a time consuming exercise.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Bhalwal, Sushma Matoo when contacted, refused to comment. However, Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Renu Sharma said that the work is going on and every effort is being made to meet the deadline of May 2020. She said while posts of Consultants/doctors have been filled, the process is underway to fill non-gazetted posts.
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