Checking of hospital building plans perturbs physicians

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 12

Doctors’ bodies have raised questions over the checking of building plans, survey and inspection of hospitals by the Municipal Corporation of Bathinda (MCB) to identify illegal and unauthorised constructions.

The Association of Physicians of India (Malwa branch) supported and appreciated the MCB’s campaign against illegal and unauthorised constructions, but failed to understand why only hospitals were being checked. The association demanded all commercial units should be checked areas-wise.

Dr Vitull K Gupta, chairman of API (Malwa branch), said everyone knew hospitals constitute only a fraction of total buildings in any city and it seemed like an illogical, irrational and biased campaign of the MCB for targeting only hospitals.

He said the API Malwa branch had sent a written representation to Dr Rishipal Singh, Commissioner, Bathinda, to consider their request to initiate survey of all buildings in a specific area rather than targeting only the hospitals.

After his letter, the IMA Bathinda unit has also announced its support over the issue.

Dr Vikas Chhabra, president of IMA, Bathinda, has suggested that it should have been an area-wise survey of all buildings, including the hospitals, or should have been initiated for the commercial buildings which are in large numbers with a definite date for all building.

He also claimed that representations were also sent to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Mayor, president of IMA, Punjab, and local leaders irrespective of party affiliations.

Dr Vikas hoped that the authorities would definitely consider their request to survey all buildings without a bias rather than picking only hospitals.

While talking to Bathinda Tribune, Municipal Commissioner Dr Rishipal Singh said, “As the state government’s one-time settlement policy is coming up, we have started a survey under which hospitals are been checked initially and later hotels and other commercial establishments would be checked.”

He said, “Buildings can be regularised after paying fee to the MCB as per the policy. It is beneficial for residents as well.”