GMC Aurangabad : Super speciality construction delayed

Aurangabad: An illegal encroachment on the Aurangabad Government Medical College and Hospital's (GMCH) land has delayed the beginning of construction of the 200 bed super speciality hospital. This healthcare facility has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana.

The Aurangabad Municipal Commissioner, who is angered by the hospital management’s casual approach to the illegal encroachment on the hospital premises has asked the Dean to submit a report on the illegal construction.

Ridden by hurdles from the beginning, this Rs 150 crore hospital project came across its first block when the union government granted the work of construction to a private firm. Now, With 30 days remaining to the start of construction, the GMCH has still not made any concrete moves to be rid of the illegal encroachment. The encroachment happens to be a illegal religious structure on the hospital land.

A memorandum has been submitted by the Shiv Sena to the Dean, Hospital for the removal of the structure. According to Balasaheb Thorat, a Shiv Sena leader, the project is necessary for the city, as it does not have a civil hospital and the patient traffic gets diverted to the GMCH.

According to Supreme Court directions, illegal structures of worship are to be done away with, added Thorat. The party plans to stage a demonstration in the absence of action on the part of hospital authorities, on 3^rd August.

AMC Deputy Commissioner, Ravindra Nikam said the Municipal Commissioner has asked for a report on the illegal structure from the GMCH Dean. ‘The civic body is still waiting for a response,’ he added.

According hospital sources, the civic chief had called the hospital Dean for a meeting on Tuesday, to thrash out the issue; however, the Dean refrained from attending. The Commissioner on his part has told Nikam, the Assistant Commissioner to have the report made available to him. According to reports, if the Dean does not do the needful then the Chief Commissioner will not hesitate to initiate appropriate action.

The property documents show the land of encroachment to be a part of the GMCH property, allotted in the name of the Aurangabad GMCH Dean, add sources . According to their revelations, the GMCH authorities are urging the contractor to begin construction without disturbing the illegal religious structure.