Srinagar, Mar 06: The Health and Medical Education Department Thursday informed the Jammu and Kashmir Government that the land for the Burzahama hospital is yet to be transferred to the Health Department for execution of the project.
The information was provided by the Minister of Health and Medical Education in the Legislative Assembly in response to a starred question raised by MLA Hazratbal Assembly, Salman Sagar, regarding the reasons for the project’s abandonment.
The Minister informed the House that during the financial year 2013-14, the construction of the PHC Burzahama was initiated under the State Sector Capex Budget at an estimated cost of Rs 179.00 lakhs through J&KPHC, with an initial release of Rs 17.00 lakhs.
However, the project stalled due to objections raised by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as the proposed construction site falls within its jurisdiction, thereby halting the work.
To resolve the issue, the Intizamia Committee Burzahama offered a piece of Auqaf land at an alternate site for the construction of the health center. The matter was subsequently taken up with the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar (Revenue Authority), for the transfer of the identified land to the Health & Medical Education Department.
The House was also informed that multiple communications regarding the land transfer were made in 2016, 2018, 2019, and 2024. However, the land has not yet been transferred to the department for execution of this vital project.
The reply further stated that the department will explore possibilities for constructing the health centre at the alternate site and make necessary funding provisions to ensure its timely execution.
