SRINAGAR The paramilitary CRPF has occupied under-construction Mother and Child hospital (MCH) at Bemina here, affecting ongoing work at the upcoming health institute.
The foundation stone of which was laid by former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed a month before his death in the year 2015. The hospital was expected to have more patient enrolment capacity than the Lal Ded Maternity hospital in city centre, and was expected to cater to patient care facilities for three districts of north Kashmir.
Though the work on the hospital was fast tracked by the government to ensure its timely completion, the occupation of the hospital premises by CRPF the work on this hospital has come to a grinding halt.
Authorities at Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, under whose control the hospital will function, said the building was yet to be handed over to them by Roads and Buildings (R&B) department. We have no knowledge about it, Principal GMC, Prof Samia Rashid said. She said she will seek a report from the officials concerned.
Coming up at a cost of Rs 75 crore, the hospital is set to have 500 bed 300 for maternity and 200 for pediatrics. Started in 2011, the project has already missed many deadlines. While Kashmir has a 750 bedded maternity tertiary care hospital, there is gross shortage of infrastructure for pediatrics. The hospital is expected to alleviate the deficiencies in pediatric healthcare in Kashmir.
When contacted, senior PDP Minister and Government Spokesman Nayeem Akhter told KNS, The government has directed IGP Kashmir to take immediate steps for shifting of the CRPF from the hospital premises to any other suitable place and hopefully the CRPF will leave the hospital premises within two or three days. (KNS)
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