Wild growth turns hospital premises into jungle

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 19

The land adjoining the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Hospital building here has turned into a jungle. Wild growth of various types of weed, which is almost four feet high, can be seen in abundance on the plot.

As the hospital is facing shortage of manpower there is no one to keep a check on the wild growth. Earlier, the hospital authorities had taken help from a social organisation for clearing the wild grass. It has become a frequent problem as there is no permanent solution.

For the past few years sewerage at the hospital has been lying choked due to which waste water drains into open spaces, which helps spread growth of wild plants.

Waste water from washrooms and urinals gets accumulated in plots adjacent to the hospital thus making the ground fertile for the growth of weeds. Hospital employees say these plots have turned into a hiding ground for rodents, which often sneak inside the building.

An employee of the ESI hospital said, “As nearby plots are waterlogged most of the time, it is not possible to use heavy machines for cutting the wild growth. So, the problem has to be dealt with manually. The job requires a large work force, which is difficult to arrange.”

Hospital officials say the grass has to be cut manually every few weeks. “The hospital requires a permanent gardener,” they added.

Joginder Singh, an attendant of a patient said, “Looking at the wild growth, the building does not seem to be of a hospital. It must be cleared as these plots have become a breeding ground for reptiles and insects.”