To be established in Khomoh in existing building
Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, May 15: Nearly 10 days after the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) started construction of 500-bed COVID-19 hospital in Central Kashmir Budgam district, the work on the project has been stopped as the Government is trying to save construction time by shifting the hospital to an available structure on the outskirts of Srinagar.
The decision to set up the facility in Valley had come when hospitals in the Valley were running on 100 percent occupancy. The hospital is believed to ramp up the medical infrastructure by adding nearly 125 fully equipped ICU beds for COVID patients and 50-double room accommodation facility for doctors and paramedic staff. The shifting of the hospital, however, has prolonged the completion of the makeshift COVID hospital which was supposed to get completed “on a war footing in a shortest possible time” and before May 31.
In view of the rising COVID-19 cases, the Defense Research and Development organization in association with the Jammu and Kashmir Government started construction of two 500-bed COVID-19 hospitals. In Valley, the administration handed over land in Reshipora village of Budgam in the outskirts of Srinagar, which was already identified for a hospital.
Deputy Commissioner Budgam, Shahbaz Mirza said the site was not feasible for the construction. “The area survey and Tree cutting at the site started on May 2 and they did a soil investigation on May 3. Due to poor soil condition and marshy land, it was difficult to construct the makeshift hospital in the timelines as it required major time-consuming efforts for the construction of foundation etc,” he said.
He added that hospital is a makeshift facility for the entire Valley. “It is not a permanent hospital and its shifting from a place should not be taken as a step amounting to depriving the district of any permanent health facility,” he said.
He also said that the Government is building a permanent facility for the people at the site. “We will use the land for construction of a new building for District hospital, when it is sanctioned. We already submitted a DPR for the same to the Government for the consideration,” he said.
An official, however, said that another major reason behind the shifting of the hospital is the availability of infrastructure in the Khonmoh area on the city outskirts. “We had no time to set up a structure. We are moving the hospital to existing infrastructure. Our intention is to save the construction time and make the hospital functional as soon as possible. There is no other reason behind the move”, he said.
J&K Anjuman Sharie Shian stated that Budgam, has faced immense development crisis, with most of its sectors remaining unexplored. “Khonmoh is a catchment area for AIIMS, Awantipora. There is a need to rethink as far establishing health institutions are concerned. You have medical colleges in the south, north, tertiary care healthcare in Srinagar. Budgam deserves its share,” a statement read.
Chairperson, DDC Budgam, Nazir Ahmad Khan has also written a letter to Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, demanding his intervention regarding the issue. “I urge the authorities to revoke the decision as the existing site is located at an ideal place with a railway station and airport nearby. The shifting of the hospital is unjust,” he told Excelsior. He, however, added that authorities have assured him they will use the site for the construction of the district hospital.
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