Jahangeer Ganaie
Pulwama, Oct 3: More than seven years have passed since the government identified land for the construction of a 100-bed maternity hospital in Pulwama, but the project remains confined to papers, leaving residents disillusioned and women patients struggling for facilities.
According to officials, around 112 kanals of land were identified at Sirnoo, on the outskirts of Pulwama town, for the hospital that was meant to address the growing healthcare needs of women in Pulwama and neighbouring Shopian districts. However, beyond the installation of a notice board at the site, no progress has been made.
“It was a long-pending demand of the people of Pulwama and Shopian to have a dedicated maternity hospital. Such a facility would have reduced referrals to Srinagar hospitals or MCH Anantnag, but it seems the project has been abandoned midway,” a health official said.
Locals expressed strong resentment over the delay, saying they have been approaching authorities for years, but their pleas have gone unheard.
“After repeated representations, land at Sirnoo was finalised with assurances that work would start soon. But seven years down the line, there is no progress,” said Jahangeer Ahmad, a resident of Pulwama.
He added that the absence of a dedicated maternity hospital forces women patients to travel either to Srinagar or private clinics, leading to unnecessary delays and extra financial burden.
“Earlier, the government had proposed the hospital at Chandgam, but since it was too far from town, protests were held, and the current location at Sirnoo was identified. Yet, nothing has changed on the ground,” he said.
Residents believe the hospital would not only save time and money but also ease the rush at Srinagar’s Lal Ded Hospital. “We request the higher authorities to intervene and ensure work begins without further delay so that locals can finally heave a sigh of relief,” they said.
Even the District Development Council (DDC) Pulwama had passed a resolution in favour of constructing the maternity hospital, but the matter continues to linger.
Meanwhile, an official said that the proposal has been forwarded to higher authorities but has not received administrative approval yet. “The project is under active consideration of the government, and hopefully it will be approved soon,” he maintained.
However, in a contradictory statement, the government recently told the Assembly that “there is no proposal before the government for the construction of a 100-bedded maternity hospital at Sirnoo, Pulwama”.
This discrepancy has further deepened the uncertainty, leaving the much-needed project in limbo and the people of south Kashmir waiting for what they call “a basic necessity, not a luxury”.
