Srinagar, Nov 12: The new block at Valley’s sole maternity hospital, the LD Hospital will not be thrown open for public in December as scheduled but is feared to be delayed by a year. Reasons:  Authorities have failed the timely construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) for the multi-crore project.
 Sources told Greater Kashmir that the hospital cannot be commissioned until next September due to inordinate delay caused by the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) in completing tendering process for the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP).
 “After UEED issued tenders some months back, three parties qualified the criteria laid down in the tender notice. They approached the department for allotment of the contract but could not get through the rigmaroles of departmental technical committee,” they said.
 “The bidders could not agree with the diktats of Babus and subsequently the process was cancelled. Now the department is thinking to issue fresh tenders which may take another nine months to complete,” an official, wishing anonymity said.
 Insiders said the technical committee was considering the Lakes and Water Development Authority (LAWDA) model of STPs that is “unlike in the hospital setting.” “The STP to be installed in the hospital should have certain modifications taking in view its sensitive setting. But, committee members were arrogant about their stand and unnecessarily delayed the process,” they said.
 Pertinently, the building was due for commissioning in December 2012, to cater to the increasing patient rush on the existing LD Hospital from across the valley. As per official figures, the hospital OPD receives 500 patients on daily basis.
 “The In-patient Department of the hospital has over 700 admissions presently with 130 percent bed occupancy,” an official said. He said the new building would also relieve the burden on the laboratories and theatres.    
 When contacted the Chief Engineer, UEED RC Gupta said: “The case was sent to the State Contract Committee (SCC) after technical committee failed to decide on the rates causing some delay.” “The SCC has already cleared the process and recommended inclusion of latest technology,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Nov 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Nov 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Nov 2012 00:00:00 IST