Mussoorie CMO displeased over delayed hospital project

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, April 27

Dr SP Agarwal, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dehradun, has expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in the ongoing construction work of the combined health centre. The centre was proposed to replace the old civil hospital that was demolished six years ago. The project is yet to see the light of the day.

Dr Agarwal inspected hospitals in Mussoorie today. He blamed the executive agency – Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam – for the delay. “Agency’s apathy as well as shortage of funds have hampered the construction. A revised estimate has been sent to the government for approval. Action against the executive agency has also been recommended,” he said.

He said that the progress report of the project would be submitted to the DG Health within one month following which further decision would be taken.

He said the revised estimate of the budget would be around Rs 6 crore whereas it was just Rs 3.50 crore in 2010. Once completed, the hospital would serve patients of Mussoorie as well as Tehri Garhwal district, who have to rush to Dehradun in case of emergency.

The CMO said the project was initiated when he was posted in Mussoorie, hence it struck an emotional cord with him.

However, the residents of the town are skeptical at the Dehradun CMO’s assurances. They view the project as a white elephant that has moved nowhere for the past six years.

Amit Bhatt, senior BJP leader from Mussoorie, said all the projects taken up by the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam have witnessed inordinate delays. “It is due to the basic structure of the Nigam which does not believe in the tender process. The work is given on job order where the game of commission is played and the contracts are given accordingly. No action is taken against any official,” he added.

Mussoorie MLA Ganesh Joshi had also met the then state Health Minister Surendar Singh Negi to apprise him about the issue but to no avail.