‘Revised approval process underway’
SRINAGAR: Minister for Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that around 75 per cent physical progress has been achieved on the construction of the 50-bedded hospital block at Pahalgam, with the remaining works being pursued on priority.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Wani.
Sakeena Itoo informed the House that the Health & Medical Education Department had accorded Administrative Approval under Government Order No. 244-JK(HME) of 2020 dated March 12, 2020, for construction of the 50-bedded hospital at Pahalgam at a sanctioned cost of ₹19.90 crore. The project includes construction of the hospital building along with associated civil, electrical, mechanical and allied works.
The Minister said that ₹16.75 crore has been released against the project, while ₹10.53 crore had been expended up to March 31, 2026. An expenditure of ₹33.31 lakh has further been incurred during the current financial year, as reflected in the departmental statement.
The Minister informed the House that the project is progressing satisfactorily and has achieved approximately 75 per cent physical progress.
She said the DG Set has been successfully commissioned and handed over, while the Laundry System, Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) and Sterile Tunnel Project (STP) have been supplied/installed and are presently at the commissioning stage.
The installation of the hospital lift is also under progress, while the remaining mechanical and electrical components are being pursued for completion.
Giving details about the delay, Sakeena Itoo said that during execution, an additional basement became necessary due to site topography and level differences.
This resulted in an increase in the built-up area and consequently required additional structural, architectural, allied, mechanical and electrical works, leading to revision of the project cost.
She further stated that post-COVID escalation in equipment and installation costs also contributed to the increase in the project cost, for which additional funding is being explored.
The Minister informed the House that the progress of the project is being personally monitored and that a review meeting has also been held with all stakeholders to address the issues affecting its completion.
She said the process for revised Administrative Approval has already been initiated and the same will be accorded after receipt and scrutiny of the revised DPR from the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir.
Responding to a supplementary regarding upgradation of PHCs at Pahalgam, Sallar and Aishmuqam to Sub-District Hospitals, the Minister clarified that there is no such proposal at present, as the Department is currently focusing on consolidation and strengthening of existing healthcare facilities.
She further explained the provisions of IPHS-2022 norms, stating that districts with less than five lakh population and having a functional District Hospital do not require a Sub-District Hospital.
Districts having a population between five and ten lakh can have one SDH, while one additional SDH can be considered for every further ten lakh population for providing comprehensive secondary healthcare services.
The Minister stated that, accordingly, a district having a population of up to 20 lakh can have one District Hospital and two SDHs, while Jammu and Kashmir already has more SDHs than the admissibility envisaged under IPHS-2022.
