Basic hospital construction pending in Dhanusha

By Vijay Kumar Sah,Dhalkebar, April.1: The government led by KP Sharma Oli had laid the foundation stones for the construction of basic hospitals in 376 local levels across the country simultaneously on November 30, 2020.

 Of them, 12 were to be built in 12 different local levels of Dhanusha district. But about two and a half years after the foundation laying ceremony, construction of many of the hospital has not begun yet. 

As per the need,  one five to 15-bed basic hospital was to be constructed in each local level.

Dhanusha has 18 local levels and 12 of them – Kshireshwornath, Ganeshman Charnath, Dhanushadham, Mithila, Mithila-Bihari, Bideha, Sabaila, Shahidnagar, Hansapur, Aurahi, Mukhiyapatti-Musaharniya and Bateshwor – were selected to be included in the first phase for the construction of the basic hospitals. 

However,  28 months after the groundbreaking ceremony, no work has started in at least 10 local levels.

The delay is a result of either land-related issues or disagreement between the local representatives.

"Land issues led to laying the foundation stones in as many as four different places of Mithila Municipality even after the Oli-led government laid the foundation.  It was on April 13, 2022, that the Ministry of Health and Population suspended the project in our municipality," said Hari Narayan Mahato, former mayor of Mithila Municipality.

Now, Mithila Municipality is the only one which has started the construction of a 15-bed basic hospital in the district after the ministry revoked the suspension on December 15, 2022.

"It took a lot of efforts, several meetings were held and multiple requests were made to revoke the suspension. We have now prepared the hospital's detailed project report and other works are underway," said Mahendra Mahato, Mayor of Mithila.

Meanwhile, the hospital construction process has not moved forward in Kshireshwornath Municipality. 

The process had been stalled because of a dispute between municipal council members after former mayor Yogendra Pajiyar laid the foundation stone for a 15-bed hospital construction in Mahendranagar. 

"This issue has not been raised in the municipal council meeting yet. I am uncertain when the process for the hospital construction will resume," said Sukhadev Yadav, Mayor of Kshireshwornath.

Dhanushadham Municipality, on the other hand, has completed the construction of the ground floor of the hospital 15 days ago. "For the second phase construction, we need budget. Until then, the construction work cannot be continued," said Baleshwor Mandal, Mayor of Dhanushadham.

Similarly, Bateshwor Municipality has also constructed the roof for the ground storey of the hospital. "The hospital is being constructed with Rs. 100 million provided by the Ministry of Health and Population. It will be completed within a year," said Ram Ashish Mahato, chairman of Bateshwor.

Locals hope that the hospitals will be constructed soon so that they can utilise their services because private hospitals are too expensive.