Rs 200-cr PGI satellite centre fails to take off

Anirudh Gupta

Ferozepur, January 2

The Rs 200-crore PGI satellite centre announced in 2013 is yet to see the light of day. Much to the dismay of people who have been clamouring for specialised healthcare facilities in the region, the project has seemingly become victim of political slugfest.

“Thousands of patients have to traverse long distances every day for specialised treatment,” said JS Sodhi, president, Live Savers Club. Mandeep Kumar, president, Press Club, said the proposed centre would give a major fillip to the specialist healthcare needs for the people of the border region of the state, besides Rajasthan and parts of Haryana.

“It was high time that both the state and Centre should expedite the project without any further delay,” he added.

Of the two satellite centres announced for Sangrur and Ferozepur, OPD services have been started in Sangrur and its foundation stone laid, while the project in Ferozepur remains mired into procedural wrangles till date. Even the work on the construction of AIIMS in Bathinda that was sanctioned much later has started. Though after much dilly-dallying, the state government had approved the transfer of 25 acres belonging to the Horticulture Department at Malwal Qadim village to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for setting up this 100-bedded centre linked to the PGI, Chandigarh, its status remains uncertain.

This matter was also placed before the PGI’s governing body during its meeting in July this year during which it was decided to prepare detailed project report on the same, but till date nothing has been done.

Congress MLA Parminder Singh Pinki said he would ensure that the foundation stone of this project was laid soon. He accused the previous SAD-BJP regime for delaying the project. He said a medical and nursing college would also be set up here soon.

On two previous occasions, a high-level team of PGI officials visited the town to finalise the site, but without any tangible result. On the delay in approval of the project, a PGI official said: “There was delay caused due to the issue in the transfer of land and some litigation issues also cropped up. However, the present proposed site belongs to the government and we see no hold ups in future.”

Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, DC, said the administration would try that OPD services were started soon on the civil hospital premises till the building of the centre gets completed.

Row over land 

• On two previous occasions, a high-level team of PGI officials visited the town to finalise the site, but without any tangible result.
• A PGI official said: "There was a delay in the transfer of land. Some litigation issues had also cropped up. However, the site that has been shortlisted now belongs to the government and we see no trouble ahead.