Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today formally kick started the work of Rs. 22 crore Sub-District Hospital building at Kote-Bhalwal, near here.The new hospital complex will be constructed at the site of existing hospital at Kote Bhalwal for which the foundation stone stands already laid. The responsibility of construction work has been assigned to the JKPCC.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that BJP-PDP Government was committed to provide better facilities to the people, especially in the health sector, for that a comprehensive programme has been put in place to strengthen the infrastructure. He said Raipur-Domana constituency is spread over a difficult topography and lacked medicare facilities due to indifferent attitude of the successive governments. In view of the huge catchment area, it has been decided to augment the existing hospital at Kote-Bhalwal with 100 bed hospital to meet the requirements of people. He said the Government will equip this important hospital with all modern diagnostic facilities. He directed the JKPCC engineers to ensure quality of work and complete the project in a time bound manner.
On the occasion, he also interacted with the locals and listened to their problems. They complained about the erratic water supply in the Kandi belt and called for augmenting the PHE infrastructure to ensure adequate supply. They also raised some local issues like improvement in power infrastructure, lane and drains, immediate repair and blacktopping of Ban Talab-Amb Gharota road which is in pathetic condition due to widening.The Minister issued on-the spot instructions to the PHE engineers to attend to the problems on priority and monitor the water supply on regular basis. He warned of strict action on maintaining slackness. He also assured to look into the other demands for appropriate disposal.The Minister also spoke to the agitating employees of health department and enquired about their problems. He asked them to shun the path of agitation and cooperate with the administration in addressing their all issues amicably.Prominent among those present on the occasion included, Managing Director, JKPCC, Dilip Thussu, Director Health Services, Dr. Gurjeet Singh, CMO, Jammu, Dr. Robinder Khajuria, Block Medical Officer, Kote Bhalwal, Dr. Manzoor Ahmed, and local leaders, Omi Khajuria, Madhusudan Sharma and Ved Prakash Sharma.