Kulgam, Mar 09 (KNO): Even after 12 years, the construction of a sub-district hospital in Kulgam awaits completion despite the availability of funds.
Locals said that the hospital was sanctioned in the year 2008 and was scheduled to be completed in three years but even after passing 12 years, "hospital is nowhere near completion".
They said hardly some percent of work has been done as of now and if the speed remains the same, then it would take another two decades to complete the project.
Officials within the health department said that ill planning of the health officials besides political meddling delayed the project.
They said that after completing nearly 50 per cent of the work, the department under the pressure of some politicians declared the site unfit and started searching for an alternative site.
They further added that after taking years in getting new location, official choose to construct modern sub-district hospital at the site of police station Damhal Hanjipora was set on fire during the 2016 unrest.
"The earlier site where half of the building for SDH was completed was given to the police for construction of police station," they said.
"The swapping of locations not only wasted time but also wasted the funds," they said, adding that this hospital became a victim of political meddling.
The locals that the health care of the area is worst and for even minor ailments, they have to visit district hospitals.
They requested authorities to look into the matter and complete the hospital at the earliest so that locals can heave a sigh of relief.
Chief Medical Officer Kulgam Dr Fazil Kochak said that they have repeatedly asked the construction company to speed up the work.
He said the slab of the first storey was laid and hopefully work will resume again and completed soon—(KNO)