District Development Commissioner, Kulgam, Mr. Showkat Aijaz Bhat, today kick-started another plantation drive at District Hospital Kulgam.On this occasion, 400 conifer saplings were planted in the compound of the hospital. It was said that the plantation target for the current season is 2.85 lakh, including 400 Chinar saplings, of which 1.02 lakh saplings have been planted in the district so far.The DDC urged the gathering present on the occasion to maximize the green cover in the district and not to use polythene and other non-biodegradable substances. He asked the Medical Superintendent to take effective measures for implementing the same.He said that with the forests having been denuded we need to restore the ecological balance and it is our collective responsibility to restore the forest cover. He further said that administration is in full gear to restore the environment and forests through many pilot projects and schemes to ensure development of green corridors in Kulgam.
Meanwhile, the DDC also visited the construction site of the Maternity and Childcare Hospital adjacent to the District Hospital. The project is being executed by Police Housing Corporation coming up at an estimated cost of Rs 7.00 crore. He also inspected the execution of phase-II construction work of the District Hospital executed by the JKPCC at an estimated cost of Rs 19.00 crore. He said that for the convenience of attendants, a sarai is coming up in the vicinity of the hospital and construction work on the project is in full swing.Later, the DDC visited the in-patient wards and interacted with patients and the attendants to enquire about the various facilities available to them in the health institution. He said that while the laboratories and physiotherapy labs have already been established and further up gradation of health care is on anvil, the required infrastructure is coming up in the district to minimize the referrals.