15 Years On, Sub-District Hospital In Kulgam Awaits Completion

KULGAM: The construction of the sub-district hospital in south Kashmir’s Kulgam district remains incomplete even after over 15 years, leaving the hospital to function from inadequate facilities.

The hospital project, sanctioned in 2008 with a scheduled completion period of three years, remains unfinished despite the passage of more than a decade and a half, locals told the news agency.

They said that only around 55 percent of the work has been completed so far, and recently efforts were made to resume construction after years of suspension.

Health department officials said poor planning and political interference caused the delay, which led to the project's prolonged stagnation. They said that after completing nearly half of the construction, the site was declared unfit due to political pressures, resulting in a search for an alternative location.

Eventually, a decision was made to construct the modern sub-district hospital at the site of the Police Station Damhal Hanjipora, which was previously damaged during the 2016 unrest, an official said, adding, “This relocation process, however, not only prolonged the project but also resulted in wasted funds, becoming a victim of political manoeuvring as various local leaders vied for credit instead of prioritising the needs of the local population.”

Residents of the upper belt of Kulgam have expressed frustration, saying they are being caught in the crossfire of political games, witnessing little to no development on the ground.

“We are forced to visit District Hospital Kulgam for even minor procedures as authorities have failed to complete a new building,” they lamented.

They said the incomplete sub-district hospital, which functions merely as a Primary Health Centre (PHC) due to the lack of facilities, exacerbates the healthcare crisis and is serving hundreds of villages.

The locals have urged authorities to expedite the completion of the hospital to alleviate their suffering and provide essential medical services closer to home.

An official informed KNO that construction work has recently resumed, and truss work is currently underway. Efforts are being made to accelerate the project, and it will be completed by March next year, he said—(KNO)