Sopore, Apr 21: The construction work of the Sub District Hospital (SDH) Sopore has been going on at snail’s pace for the past 2-decades evoking strong resentment from the residents.
 “The foundation stone for the construction of SDH Sopore was laid way back in 1984 and since then its awaiting completion,” locals told Greater Kashmir.
 At present SDH Sopore in this north Kashmir town. is functioning from the Out Patient Department (OPD) of  the under construction hospital. The OPD was inaugurated by then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2007.
 A look at the status of different works reveals that only the OPD block and secondary buildings like Medical Superintendent’s quarter, garage and AVR building have been completed. While, work on majors buildings, including In Patient Department (IPD) Operation Theatre, Service block and Nursing block is still under progress.
  “It is impossible to cater to the rush from different districts within this limited space. All the blocks including the IPD are running from the OPD,” medicos said. “Hospital has got only 25 beds.”
 “Sometimes we have to put two patients on one bed,” they added.
 The delay in completion of the health institution has evoked strong resentment from the locals. Former president of Sopore Bar Association Muhammad Maqbool Mir said that construction work going on at snail’s pace reflects the “vendetta and injustice” with the town.
 “Even the town is neglected and victimized in the health sector. If the work goes at this pace, then it would take 30-40 years more to complete the hospital,” he said.
  Member of the Legislative Assembly from Sopore and leader of the ruling National Conference Muhammad Ashraf Ganie seconded Mir, saying, “Hospitals come up within 2-3 years but 20-years have passed, it is still incomplete.”
 “I had taken up the issue with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma but nothing happened,” he added.  Locals said that they have approached successive regimes to expedite the work on the hospital buildings umpteenth times over the years. “Their promises of getting hospital completed at the earliest have proved to be a hoax, “they said.
 “We have approached everybody including every Chief Minister from 1996 to complete the construction of the hospital. But our repeated pleas have fallen on deaf ears," they added.
 Farooq Ahmed Bulla the Deputy General Manager of Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Company (JKPCC) told Greater Kashmir that delay in the release of funds had hit the SDH project. “We have done work in proportionate with the release of funds. So far we have received Rs 25.04 crores and work done stands at Rs 25 crores,” he added
  When contacted, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr. Saleem-Ur-Rehman said that it would take three to four years more to complete the project.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 21 Apr 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 IST