Seven years after its construction began, the authorities are yet to complete the construction work of new building of Veterinary Hospital at Tral in district Pulwama.
The veterinary hospital caters to the breeders from almost 115 villages of Tral sub-district. The government’s failure to complete this vital project within the stipulated time has irked the cattle breeders who accuse the government of being indifferent to the problems they face in availing the healthcare facilities for their livestock.
“The work on the hospital building was initiated with an objective to provide better healthcare facilities to the livestock, but the incomplete project has exposed the state government’s claim of providing quality healthcare to the livestock particularly in remote areas,” said a cattle breeder.
In 2011, the project was sanctioned by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to R&B department. The construction was initiated on the new building after cracks developed in old building which was subsequently declared unsafe.
Locals of the area said that the old building was constructed under Hari Singh’s rule and government has never bothered to replace it by constructing new building. Everyday hundreds of cattle breeders visit the hospital but are unable to avail the required facilities. The hospital works from two dilapidated rooms. The doctors and the staff are unable to perform their duties in the old building.
The structure of the building was completed five years ago and since then no work has been done. The building is even without doors, windows and concrete flooring.
The sheep breeders and locals said that they have many times approached the concerned government officials about the issue but their repeated pleas fell on deaf ears. “The construction work on the office was started with the promise that it will be completed within two years but even after passing of more than four years it is still incomplete. The building has become a mere skeleton,” said a local resident.
Both locals and cattle breeders have now appealed to the higher authorities to restart the construction work of the building. Executive engineer R&B division Pulwama, Sajad Naquib said, “The construction work will be started very soon and the work will be completed this year.”