Hospital construction yet to begin 2 yrs after foundation laid

By Our Correspondent,Dhading, Mar.1: Two years have passed since the foundation of the new building of Benighat Health Post in Benighat Rorang Rural Municipality-5, Dhading, was laid. But construction of the building has not made any headway. Even the place where the foundation stone was laid has faded into obscurity. 

Because of the uncertainly surrounding the construction, the locals have turned the land the municipality prepared for the construction into a parking area.  

With the aim of providing health services in all the local levels across the country, the government of the day had laid the foundation stone on November 15, 2020 virtually. But soon the locals, provincial, and federal government changed, stalling the progress in the construction work.  

Krishna Bahadur Thapaliya, chairman of the municipality, informed that the construction work was halted for lack of land. According to him, technicians told him that the place where the foundation stone was laid was steep and so unsuitable for the hospital. 

“The foundation stone has been placed, but the construction of the hospital building here will be against the set standards,” said Thapaliya.  

No progress has been made in building hospitals not only in Dhading, but also in other districts. Only a few hospitals are under-construction now. 

Yama Badahur Shrestha, the health coordinator, said that the primary health centre of Tripurasundari Rural Municipality in the district was under construction. 

The 15-bed hospital is expected to cost Rs. 180 million upon completion.  

Dispute over land is said to have delayed construction of the health center. Shrestha claimed that the land available to build the hospital belonged to an individual, but they purchased the land and began construction of the building.

Likewise, a 15-bed hospital at Satdobato in Jwalamukhi Rural Municiplaity-2 is now under construction. 

According to Sujan Shrestha, the health coordinator of the municipality, the construction was delayed due to the land dispute and tender process.  

“The building seems unlikely to get ready within the given deadline of mid-July,” he added.