Despite passing eight years, the construction of New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) hospital at Amchi Kundal Baharabad, Tehsil Hajin of north Kashmiri's Bandipora district is yet to be completed.According to KNS correspondent, the construction of NTPHC hospital having 18 rooms was started in the year 2008. However, the work is yet to be completed. Sources said that the total estimated cost to construct the building is more than 93 lacs but only 50 lacs have been utilised so far due to which the construction of the hospital building got delayed.The delay in constructing the hospital faces severe criticism by the patients visiting the hospital for treatment alleging it to be a reason of immense hardships.“With the delay in completing the construction of the hospital building, we are facing immense hardship. The building should be constructed at earliest for the well-being of the people visiting the hospital,” they said.They said that they approached several higher ups in this regard but nothing has been done on the ground.Locals said that from 1960, the hospital in the area is being run in a rented building of Auqaf.
“Initially, it was a dispensary and later the authorities upgraded it into a New Type Primary Health Centre. There are 6 faculty members including a lady doctor, General physician, pharmist along with some other members as well,” they said.Executive Engineer R&B Javid Iqbal told KNS that the Medical District Sector sanctions the amount and precede it to the department. “We are subordinate to MHS in utilising the amount,” he said.However, Exen said that a year before they sent an estimate of 43 lacs to MDS, but unfortunately they only sanctioned and provided a meager amount of Rs 1 lac and 62 thousands, which was not enough to complete the construction of the building.Chief Planning Officer Bandipora, Abdul Majid said that due to stoppage of funds, at least seven buildings are currently under construction. “We have received only Rs 6 crores out of 12 crores from the year 2008. Under the scheme, we get only 52 lacs per year for the construction of the said buildings,” he said.Chief Medical Officer Bandipora, Bilkees Mir told KNS that due to the lack of funds such kinds of issue take place. “I personally approached several officials in this regard but they hardly bother to look into it,” she said. “We have lack of funds, Bilkees said and added that on several times I talked to different agencies but in response no attention was given by their side, he added. (KNS)