Handwara, Dec 16: The Jammu and Kashmir government has constituted a committee to resolve the issue of land relocation for Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara after the under-construction building was inundated during heavy floods in April this year.
The decision was formalized through Government Order No: 2090-JK(GAD) of 2024, issued on December 16, 2024. The committee will be chaired by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, with Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara and other key officials including Principal GMC Handwara and Director Agriculture, Kashmir as members.
The committee has been tasked to ascertain the feasibility of alternative sites identified by the Deputy Commissioner, Kupwara, ensuring safety parameters, availability of utilities like water, power supply, and road connectivity, as well as encumbrance-free land for the construction. It will also estimate the exact land requirements as per NMC norms, minimum 200 kanals, and issue necessary clearances from concerned departments.
However, the decision has triggered concerns among the local population, who have questioned the feasibility of the previously selected site. “If the place was not fit for GMC construction, why did the government waste crores of rupees on it?” locals questioned, demanding a high-level probe to identify those responsible for the oversight.
The committee is expected to submit its report within 15 days, with specific findings and recommendations to facilitate the relocation process. The matter has sparked public outrage, with many urging the administration to ensure accountability while expediting the relocation of GMC Handwara to a safer and suitable site.
