TEZPUR, Feb 16 � The oft repeated claims by Education and Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma of high achievements in developmental works in the State, particularly in the health sector, the pathetic condition of the proposed 200-bedded civil hospital that was started in 1991 at Parwa Chariali near here tells a different story.
The 200-bed hospital was to cater to the poorer section of the society hailing from in and around Tezpur town as the existing Kanaklata Civil Hospital is unable to accommodate patients in number needed.
Poor Gynecology patients referred from various PHCs and CHCs to the civil hospital here are often seen lying on ground as the hospital authority is unable to provide required accommodation because of which many of them have to embrace death.
With an aim of getting rid of this kind of problems, the foundation stone of this project was laid on December 13, 1991 by the then Chief Minister Hiteswar Saikia at the proposed site having an area measuring 40 bighas of land.
It is important to mention here that the responsibility of construction work of the much-needed hospital was laid on PWD (Building) Tezpur. However, after the construction of its plinth, construction work was stopped and it is presently covered by weeds.
Sources in the Health Department told this newspaper that a sizable amount of money was a released and handed over to the PWD(B) Department as the first installment for the initial work of the project. With this amount, work up to the plint level was constructed and thereafter work has remained halted for the last 10 years.
Meanwhile, Saitenya Hazarika, JE, PWD(B) Tezpur, informed that the project was stopped for non-sanctioning of the remaining amount of fund and many contractors are yet to receive their bills.
