MARGAO
Madgavkars in particular and Saxttikars in general, beware! Don’t go by the ongoing painting work at the long-delayed South Goa district hospital to jump to a conclusion that the hospital commissioning is finally on the anvil.
It’s now official. The long-delayed project may not be commissioned on this year’s Independence Day “ the deadline set by the Manohar Parrikar-led coalition government.
The district hospital building completed in all respects by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) will be officially handed over to the Director of Health Services only in September 2018 for commissioning.
The actual commissioning of the hospital project by the Health Services would greatly depend on the procurement of medical equipment and recruitment of manpower, two aspects where the GSIDC has no role to play and which comes within the ambit of the Health Services.
A glance at the reply tabled by the Minister for Finance to a starred questioned tabled by MLA Antonio Fernandes categorically states that the likely time frame by which the entire civil, plumbing, electrical, firefighting, HVAC, lift, landscaping, roadwork, false ceiling, LV system etc will be completed by the GSIDC is May 31. However, the balance work , which includes sewage treatment plant, steel operation theatre, medical gas pipeline system, interior works, light fixtures, central sterlite supply department (CSSD) will be completed by September 30, 2018.
In the reply, the GSIDC has attributed a host of reasons for the delay in the completion of the district hospital work. “As per the requirements of the DHS, changes were required to be done in NICU, OPD area, dialysis, OT, labour room. The layout of the blood bank had to be changed as per the requirements of the FDA. Also, there were revisions in the interior layout of basement and ground floor. Other specialized jobs like operation theatre equipment, CSSD, medical gas, autoclaves, sewage treatment plant etc could not be taken up due to the election code of conduct.
In some tenders, there has been poor response, due to which these have been re-floated. There was seepage in the basement and rectification of the same is now complete. The work in the basement is in progress now,” GSIDC Managing Director Srinet Kothawale told The Goan.
Besides, he pointed out that the existing sewage line has been illegally opened up into the storm water drain constructed by the hospital. “Unless, it is plugged by the department concerned, the external development work cannot be completed,” he added. When asked whether the project can see light of the day by September 2018, when the GSIDC will hand over the building to the Health Services, Srinet said, “Once the building is completed in all respects, the commissioning of the project will depend on Health Services.
The procurement of medical equipment, besides recruitment of medical and para-medical personnel, falls within the ambit of the Director of Health Services.”
