The non-availability of funds has delayed the construction of much-awaited Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Kullan area of central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, leaving the people to lurch at large.
The construction of the hospital was started in the year 2012, the locals told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), saying that the non-availability of funds have hampered the progress of the construction work.
The PHC is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 7 crores and the project is being executed by J&K Housing Board.
The residents said that the hospital has been under construction for the last six years and hasn’t been completed as of now, adding that the delay in the completion of the PHC is forcing the locals to face immense hardships.
“We are being forced to visit other hospitals for treatment,” a local resident, Shabir Ahmad Raina, said.
Presently, the PHC is functioning from a small, old building and the lack of space has been adversely affecting healthcare, he added.
The hospital authorities are also facing hardships in admitting the patients due to the inadequate space, he said.
The residents appealed to the concerned authorities to look into the matter and complete the construction of the hospital as soon as possible.
An official said that the funds have been released and JK Housing Board Executive agency is presently busy in completing some technical process and “we are in touch with them, it is expected that this building will be completed at earliest.”—(KNO)