5 years on, new polyclinic hospital building in Pinjore remains incomplete
Panchkula: In a telling reflection of the sorry state of affairs, the construction of a new building for the polyclinic hospital in Pinjore, approved five years ago with a budget of Rs 7.52 crore, remains stalled.
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According to the public works department (PWD), the scope of the project expanded beyond the original plan. Initially, three floors were to be constructed within the sanctioned budget, but five floors were eventually built, even as the building is an unfinished state. "The approved amount has nearly been exhausted, so a revised estimate for the remaining work has been prepared and sent to the state government. Once approval is granted, the remaining construction will be completed," stated the executive engineer of the PWD construction division in response to an RTI query.
The administrative approval for the project was granted on July 14, 2020. However, due to delays and mismanagement, the incomplete building is now deteriorating and will likely require additional maintenance and incur further costs.
The existing hospital building, constructed during the British era, is too small to accommodate the current staff and patient load. With the new facility in limbo, residents are forced to rely on this cramped, outdated structure.
Basic medical services are lacking; for instance, there is no X-ray facility, compelling patients to travel to Panchkula civil hospital, Chandigarh hospitals, or private facilities for even routine diagnostics.
"The construction work has been halted for about one and a half years and has not resumed. The unfinished building is slowly falling into disrepair, yet neither the government, the health department, nor the local administration is taking any responsibility," said Vijay Bansal, an area resident and state president of Shivalik Vikas Manch.
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"The BJP govt has only shown dreams of providing employment, health, and education facilities to the residents of Kalka assembly constituency in its tenure of about 11 years, while the ground reality is telling something else. Development work is not happening fast in Kalka assembly constituency. Therefore, Pinjore-Kalka area has lagged in all other areas including employment, health, and education," alleged Bansal, who is also a Congress leader and wrote to the chief minister and health minister demanding health facilities in Kalka, Pinjore, and Morni area as soon as possible.
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