Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Feb 11: Its is more than nine years since construction work of a new building for Primary Health Centre was completed at Drubgam hamlet in South Kashmir’s Pulwama District but authorities have failed to make it functional.
The construction work on the building was started in 2002 and completed in 2009. Despite, the completion of the building the department of Health has failed to make it functional as an alleged dispute over its location has halted the process.
Chief Medical Officer Pulwama, Talat Jabeen, when contacted said that a tussle between the two villages over the location of health centre has deferred the shifting. “Presently, the health centre operates from a rented place in the nearby village( away from new structure). The villagers are creating hurdles in shifting the health centre”, she said, adding that they were trying to take people into confidence.
She added that there was a dispute over the location between people from existing location of health centre at Paeen and the new location at Bala. “The people of Paeen even moved to the court but the issue has been settled now”, she said. “The health centre has to be shifted to the new building and the process has already started as the pulse polio immunization was administered from the new building.”
The locals lamented lack of infrastructure was hampering the health care services of more than ten villages including Sangerwani, Abhama, Gujjar basti etc. “Governments failure to shift the health centre to the new building has rendered the structure useless and wasted the public money,” Ishfaq Ahmad, a resident from Drabgam said.
He added that the building has become favorite haunt for drug addicts and gamblers who had also damaged the windows and doors of the buildings. “The structure has become a favourite place for antisocial elements that throng the place daily. They have also damaged the windows, doors and flooring of the building,” he said, adding the department has failed to maintain the upkeep of the building.
When asked about the damages building has suffered over the years she said: “The building is with the health department and after the people are taken into confidence the renovation work will be picked up, “she said.
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