Despite the government’s commitment to provide a 100-bed maternity hospital in Pulwama, no progress has been made on construction, despite five years having passed since the project was announced.
Top health officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that 112 kanals of land at Sirnoo Pulwama was identified for the hospital five years ago, with the aim of improving healthcare services for women in the area.
Despite the promise, nothing has been done on the ground; with authorities doing nothing more than erecting a notice board, said an official wishing anonymity.
He said the lack of progress has caused frustration among the people of Pulwama and Shopian, who have long called for a maternity hospital to be built in the area to ease pressure on hospitals in Srinagar or MCH Anantnag.
“It is frustrating that nothing has been done,” another official said, adding, “It was a long demand of the people of Pulwama and Shopian to have a maternity hospital in Pulwama, which would lessen the burden on LD Hospital, and provide facilities at the doorstep for people. We need progress on this project.”
The residents of Pulwama town while expressing frustration over the lack of progress on the proposed maternity hospital said despite continuous efforts to seek approval and identify a suitable site for over three years, the project is yet to get started.
One resident, Sameer, said the proposed site for the hospital in Sirnoo Pulwama had been identified, and promises were made to begin construction on a 100-bed facility soon.
“However, no action has been taken so far,” he said. “Initially, the government had proposed a location in the Chandgam area, which was far from the town. This was met with protests from residents, leading to the identification of the Sirnoo Pulwama site.”
He said the lack of a maternity hospital in the area forces patients to travel to either Srinagar or private clinics, which is both costly and time-consuming.
“The establishment of this hospital would be a crucial step in providing accessible healthcare facilities to the local community,” Sameer said, adding, “We urge the higher authorities to investigate the matter as soon as possible and take action so that the locals can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”
The locals further said that the District Development Council of Pulwama passed a resolution two years ago for the construction of a maternity hospital in the area.
An official from the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK) told KNO that a proposal has already been submitted to higher authorities. However, administrative approval for the project has not yet been granted, he said.
The government is actively considering the proposal and it is hoped that it will be approved in the near future, the official added—(KNO)