1. Home
2. Jammu Kashmir

As JKPCC fails in completion, patients suffer in 'unsafe' building

ESS AHMAD. Dated: 7/11/2019 9:56:00 AM

Shifting of MCH Anantnag to Rehmat-e-Alam hospital

ANANTNAG, Jul 10: In 2017, the PDP-BJP government headed by Mehbooba Mufti announced to take possession of Rahmat-e-Alam hospital, owned by a trust, alongwith with all its liabilities and assets and decided to shift the maternity and child hospital (MCH) there from the congested Sherbagh locality of the town.
Soon after the decision, the government allotted the contract of completing the construction of the hospital to JKPCC. The corporation was asked to complete the project within six months. However, seventeen months have passed but the hospital building remains far from completion. With the result, the patients at MCH Sherbagh continue to suffer due to space crunch.
Initially, the work on the project was delayed by the tussle between the Housing Board and JKPCC, in view of the authorities issuing allotment letters to both the agencies. Later the row was resolved and the contract to the house board was cancelled.
However, JKPCC, has failed to complete the project despite the authorities setting many deadlines to the agency.
"Two storeys of the building were already completed. JKPCC was supposed to complete one more storey and carry out other repairs of the building. But seventeen months have passed and the building remains far from completion. The slow pace of work on the hospital building has caused delay in shifting the maternity hospital from the old and dilapidated building located in Sherbag area of the town," said an official of the health department.
The delay in completion of Rahmat-e-Alam hospital and shifting of MCH there has left both the locals and the staff posted in the hospital fuming.
"The old building where from the hospital is functioning is not only lacking space and proper ventilation but has also been declared unsafe by the fire and emergency department several years ago. In these hot days you can see the patients sweating in the overcrowded wards," said a doctor posted in the hospital.
Chief Medical Officer, Anantnag, Dr Mukhtar also expressed annoyance over the slow pace of work in the construction of Rahmat-e-Alam building by JKPCC. "I have taken up the matter with deputy commissioner who has set a fresh deadline to JKPCC for completion of the building. DC Sahab is very much serious about it. Even the commissioner secretary health, few days back, visited the hospital site and directed the JKPCC to complete the construction as early as possible," CMO said.