SHOPIAN: New type primary health centre (NTPHC) at Imamsahib village in south Kashmir’s Shopian – which was started thirty-five years ago – is incomplete“due to unknown reasons”.
Locals said that the centre was sanctioned in 1982. “But due to lackadaisical attitude of authorities, the building of centre was never completed. Even once health minister visited this centre and assured us the completion of hospital building, but it never happened on ground,” Ghulam Muhammad Shah, a local told Kashmir Reader.
Locals informed Kashmir Reader that around 35 villages are dependent on this health centre. They allege that the area has been abandoned by successive governments including governor’s administration.
Shakeel Ahmad, another local, said that the slab of first story was laid in September 2018 after gap of many years. He said that since then, the incomplete structure is decaying without giving any relief to the locals in the area who are forced to visit hospitals based in other district which costs them more time and money even for minor treatments.
Residents added that initially the work on hospital building was started in 2008, but due to unknown reasons the work was not carried out.
“Even after repeated demonstrations, our demands were not fulfilled,” they said, adding that the similar centres which were sanctioned post 2010 have been completed.
According to an official data, the hospital was scheduled to be completed with Rs 234 lacs budget, but only Rs 17 Lacs were released by the government so far.
Chief medical officer Shopian, Sanaulla Bhat couldn’t be reached despite repeated attempts to reach him on phone.
Deputy commissioner Shopian, Choudary Mohammad Yasin also didn’t respond to the repeated calls from this reporter.

Raashid Hassan