Jahangeer Ganaie
Kulgam, Nov 18: Sanctioned around two decades ago, the sub- district hospital building in Qaimoh area of Kulgam district is awaiting completion while officials claim that building will be functional in mid 2022.
Locals said that in 2003, the PDP-Congress government sanctioned a new building for PHC Qaimoh which was later upgraded to SDH on request of locals.
They said PHC was upgraded to a 50 bedded SDH and the building was to be constructed at Rs 19.34 crore.
Locals said that the construction of the building was started in 2003 and in around seven years, only pillars of the building were constructed and later due to paucity of funds work was put on halt for years together.
“18 years have passed since construction work was started but authorities are yet to complete construction work due to which thousands of people of Qaimoh and its adjacent areas are worst sufferers,” Tawseef Ahmad a local resident.
“In absence of basic health care facilities, people are forced to visit private clinics and other government district or sub district hospitals for minor ailments,” he said.
Locals said that since 18 years they have been only hearing about deadlines but dozens of projects have already crossed many deadlines but building is still incomplete.
An official on condition of anonymity said that work on the building is going on but it is going at snail’s pace and it seems it will take one to two more years for completion.
Block Medical Officer Qaimoh Dr Ab Gani said that work on the building is going on in full swing, all exterior work has been completed and half of the truss has been also completed.
“Interior work is going on and it is likely that work will be completed by May or mid June after which SDH will start functioning,” Gani said.
