Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 24: New district hospital building being constructed at Doda with the initiative of Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad with the Central (NRHM) funding has jumped three dead lines while another hospital complex being raised at district hospital Rajouri is yet to be completed even after the lapse of six years while massive escalation in the project cost has been witnessed in these projects creating hurdles in the free flow of funding from the Government.
Sources in the State Health Department said that initially for district hospital Rajouri, a project worth Rs 18.07 crore was prepared and submitted. However, it was revised within 15 months for Rs 24.51 crore. Though a foundation stone for the project was laid by the then Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah in 2001, the work on the project was started in March 2006. The project was targeted to be completed in March 2009 and JKPCC was assigned the task.
The cost of this project was again revised and escalated to Rs 36.36 crore in February 2008. While the executing agency failed to meet the deadline and sought one year more time, in the meantime it again went for cost escalation and finally reached up to Rs 46.40 crores in 2010, which is more than double the cost of initial project.
As the agency could complete only two blocks by that time, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah preferred to inaugurate two blocks of this District hospital to make it functional on December 9, 2010. One complete block of Rajouri hospital is yet to be completed while boundary wall is yet to be raised as the agency claimed that it was not included in the project cost and has projected the demand of Rs 2.48 crores separately.
In the new block, the staff quarters including those of doctors, para-medical and allied staff are being constructed. October 2013 has been given another fresh deadline for the completion of this hospital complex but Health department was not sure about the claims of JKPCC officials and apprehend that it may take one more year to complete the project including boundary wall.
New District Hospital, Doda project which has already jumped three deadlines is unlikely to be completed by March this year and surpass another fresh deadline given by the Deputy Commissioner, Farooq Ahmed. While the JKPCC claimed to have completed almost 90-95 % of the work on this project in last about six years, some private houses and structures are yet to be removed from the complex by the authorities. Though its initial cost was also below Rs 20 crore, it was revised to the tune of Rs 25.77 crore and then to Rs 32.49 crore.
Deputy Commissioner, Doda Farooq Ahmed said that hardly a fortnight back, he reviewed the progress of work on the project and discussed the matter with JKPCC and senior Health officials of the district. He said the revised cost of this project is now over Rs 32 crores and massive cost escalation is due to delay on the part of executing agency and poor monitoring by its officials. They failed to meet last two recent deadlines which it should have adhered to and completed the work with in three years. They jumped December 2011 and December 2012 deadlines. They have been asked to enhance the pace of work and engage more man power.
Mission Director, NRHM, Dr Yash Paul Sharma when contacted said that apart from NRHM, some funds from other sources have also been provided for the project. He regretted the delay on these projects and said that delay is the major cause of cost escalation. These projects are time bound and the role of NRHM is to provide funds moreover, monitoring or execution part are to be looked after by the other two agencies.
Dr Paul further disclosed that some of the small projects, like boundary wall, staff quarters, a small bridge etc were added to the main initial project and it also effected the cost escalation. This practice also creates problem in managing funds.
Dr Paul claimed that Rajouri hospital is functioning in two blocks for the last two years and normal hospital work is not much affected due to delay on the third block. He said work on staff quarters, boundary wall laundry unit etc was in progress there and it may take some more time.
Replying to a question on lack of accountability and poor monitoring on these projects, Dr Paul said NRHM has limited role of managing funds for the project. This part is needed to be looked after by the senior people of executing agency (JKPCC) and the District or Divisional Health authorities. He admitted that massive cost escalation has been witnessed in both of these projects. He further disclosed that OPD block of the same hospital has been made functional and hardly 5% to 8% work is said to be incompletye.
Managing Director, JKPCC Ishtiaq Ahmed Hamal when contacted said that free flow of funding coupled with other reasons regarding addition works/ small projects and land acquisition etc were the difficulties faced by the agency officials. He said Doda hospital complex was almost ready and hardly 95 % work was yet to be accomplished there. He said connectivity between OPD and new block is the work left over besides other small development related work. A small bridge is also being built to provide inter-connectivity and the building will be handed over to Health department by March 2013.
Though Mr Hamal denied shortage of manpower in JKPCC and allegations of slow work, yet CMO Doda Dr Mushtaq Shah said poor monitoring by senior officials of agency and inadequate number of workers, disruption in work on several occasions also led to the delay in completion of this building. Dr Shah is apprehensive of meeting this fresh deadline by the JKPCC officials.
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