the goan I network
MARGAO
After failed deadlines by the Goa Assembly Public Undertaking Committee (PUC), all eyes are focused on the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) as Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is believed to have set March 31 as the fresh deadline to the agency to hand over the South Goa district hospital building to the Directorate of Health Services.
This is perhaps the first time that the Chief Minster after taking over the reins of office has set a deadline on the GSIDC to complete the hospital building and hand it over to the Health Director by the end of the current financial year.
Officials in the know, however, said the Chief Minister has a task at hand if he wants the long-delayed project to be completed by March-end “ to make provision for funds to the tune of Rs 20 crore to complete the project.
In fact, officials pointed out that the work on the hospital project, dragging on for the last eight years, could gain momentum even if the Chief Minister releases a grant of Rs 8.34 crore, the money presently due to the contractors by the GSIDC.
Sources said at the GSIDC board meeting held earlier this week, the Chief Minister insisted that the South Goa district hospital building should also be ready in all respects by March 31 so that the Director of Health Services takes possession of the building on April 1.
A senior GSIDC official told The Goan that work on the project can gain momentum even if the Chief Minister releases a grant of Rs 8.34 crore, an amount due to the contractors. “As per our rough estimates, it may take around Rs 20 crore to complete the hospital building. Most of the contractors have slowed down the work on the project for want of payment of their dues,” the GSIDC officer said.
To a question, the GSIDC officer further pointed out that most of the imported medical equipment has arrived in the state, adding that the three medical gas compressors, which are being procured from abroad, are presently in transit. “The Chief Minister’s March 31 deadline is achievable if the government releases the part payment to the contractors, another officer said, while keeping his fingers crossed over the government promise to make available the funds.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat told the media here on Saturday that he only hopes that the Chief Minister keeps up to his promises made on the floor of the House to release the funds for the long-delayed hospital project. “I have never intended to do politics on the long-delayed district hospital project”, he said, when the media sought to know whether he plans any agitation on the issue.
When asked whether the district hospital project is dragging on just because the dream project was initiated by him during his stint as Chief Minister, Kamat shot back, “Let the government come out with the list of the projects taken up by the GSIDC dragging on for over eight
years now”.
