Battle over CCU location heats up in Muktsar, Gidderbaha; Rupani writes letter to Nadda

The tussle over the proposed construction of a critical care unit (CCU) under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) is heating up between Muktsar and Gidderbaha. With growing public concern, leaders and residents from both towns are pushing to have the project finalized in their area.

Former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s Punjab affairs in-charge Vijay Rupani has written a letter to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, urging necessary action to establish the CCU at Muktsar.

Rupani’s intervention has come as a ray of hope for the residents of Muktsar town. Balwinder Singh Minkal Bajaj, one of those spearheading the movement, said, “The residents of Muktsar town are trying their level best to get the CCU constructed here. We have also filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, demanding that the CCU be built in the town without further delay.”

However, on the other hand, the competition from nearby Gidderbaha town is also growing. Social activist Abhay Dhillon, who is the nephew of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Gidderbaha, Hardeep Singh ‘Dimpy’ Dhillon, has publicly appealed to BJP leaders and former Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal to support the cause of setting up the CCU in Gidderbaha instead.

Notably, State Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, during a recent visit to Muktsar town, clarified that the health department was unable to immediately construct a CCU in Muktsar due to space constraints.

However, he assured that the project would be considered for Muktsar in the future, saying that it would now be built at Gidderbaha, as there was no land available at the Muktsar Civil Hospital and the process had to be completed before March 31.

The residents of Muktsar town are, however, up in arms over the shifting of the proposed healthcare facility and have held a protest march in the town. In addition, they have written to the Prime Minister, Chief Minister, and concerned officials to halt the transfer of the project to Gidderbaha.

Dr Jagdeep Chawla, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Muktsar, has already said that the required land for the CCU was not available at Muktsar Civil Hospital, and no other suitable land was available in the town; thus, the head office decided to build it at Gidderbaha.