Jahangeer Ganaie
Kulgam, Dec 5: Sanctioned about two decades ago, Sub-district hospital building in Qaimoh area of Kulgam is awaiting completion causing hardships to people.
Locals said that a new building for PHC Qaimoh which was later upgraded to SDH on request of locals was sanctioned during the PDP-Congress government in 2003.
They said PHC was upgraded to a 50 bed SDH and building was to be constructed at Rs 19.34 crores.
According to people, the construction of the building was started in 2003 and in seven years, only pillars of the building were constructed and the work was stopped due to shortage of funds.
But now, almost 20 years have passed since construction work was started, authorities are yet to complete construction work due to which thousands of people of Qaimoh and its adjacent areas are affected, said a local Jahangir Ahmad.
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.
All these years, locals said they have been hearing about deadlines which were never met.
A health official said that due to paucity of funds besides some other issues, it took so long. But now, 90 percent of the work is completed.
He said that interior work is going on and building will be completed next year as construction work is expected to take a few more months.