Raja Syed Rather
Gandarbal, Dec 19: Despite the passage of eight years, the work on the maternity hospital in the Kangan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district is incomplete.
The residents of Kangan said they have been waiting for the completion of the maternity-cum-child care hospital for eight years. The project, which is being executed by the J&K Housing Board at a cost of Rs 27.66 crore, has missed multiple deadlines for completion since the construction began in 2014.
The land was identified in 2005 when Ghulam Nabi Azad was the Chief Minister while Jammu Kashmir Housing Board was directed to execute the work on the hospital that was supposed to come up at an estimated cost of Rs 27.66 crore.
An official said that the establishment of the hospital was meant to provide residents with access to quality maternity and childcare services without having to travel to hospitals in other towns or cities. It was also hoped that the hospital would ease the influx of maternity patients from the area to hospitals in Srinagar.
“However, the delay in completing the hospital has left locals relying on the Sub District Hospital in Kangan, which does its best to provide maternity care, but can’t always meet the needs of patients with serious complications,” the official said.
The locals said the patients have to travel up to around 100 kilometers to reach the maternity hospital in Srinagar, a journey that can be dangerous for those in critical condition.
CMO Ganderbal Dr Afroza Shah said the hospital will be completed soon. “There was an issue with funds which have been released now. The hospital will be completed soon,” the CMO said.
Talking about the pending work, Dr Afroza said only some internal work is pending and the construction is going on in full swing. “The hospital will be functional after a few months,” she said.
