Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 18 : The Jammu and Kashmir government said on Tuesday that the construction of an additional block at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Habbak in Srinagar has been halted by the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA).
Responding to a question from MLA Salman Sagar, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, as per the news agency, said work on the SDH upgradation began after administrative approval was granted under Government Order No. 656-JK (HME) of 2022, dated 15-09-2022, with an estimated cost of Rs. 1899.74 lakh.
“The executing agency initiated the tendering process, while the department sought statutory compliance clearance from LCMA, which is still pending,” she said.
Itoo said the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, in its order dated 06.09.2022 (PIL No. 159/2002), prohibited new construction within 200 metres of Dal Lake’s periphery, except for repairs and renovations of existing structures. She said the Principal of Government Medical College, Srinagar, filed an application (C.M No. 4159/2024) seeking permission for the SDH extension. On 05.08.2024, the court directed LCMA to consider the application within three weeks, but no action has been taken so far.
The Housing and Urban Development Department also reported that construction was halted as it commenced without the required permission from the competent authority, the minister said. “Since the site falls within the 200-metre buffer zone, fresh construction is not permitted except for repair, renovation, or reconstruction. The matter is currently under review by the Board of Competent Authority (BOCA),” she said.
The health minister said that patient influx at SDH Hazratbal has increased in the past three years due to the availability of services such as 24/7 digital X-ray, high-end ultrasound, an upgraded dental section, and maternal and child health facilities. “Although additional infrastructure is required, construction remains stalled by LCMA. However, the hospital has adequate medical and paramedical staff,” she said.
Responding to a question from MLA Sajad Shaheen, Minister Itoo said that Banihal Constituency has 68 functioning healthcare institutions, including 1 Sub-District Hospital (SDH), 1 Community Health Centre (CHC), 7 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 12 New Type Primary Health Centres (NTPHCs) and 47 Sub-Centres.
These facilities provide primary to secondary healthcare, emergency treatment, maternal and child care, immunisation and family planning services, the minister said, adding that they screen for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiac conditions, diabetes, and renal ailments to reduce the burden on higher healthcare centres.
“These institutions are equipped with inpatient (IPD) and outpatient (OPD) services, X-ray and laboratory facilities, and ambulance services. Ultrasound services are available at district and sub-district hospitals. To address staffing shortages, the department recently appointed 365 medical officers, with 17 posted in various health institutions in Ramban District,” she said.
The minister added that while Banihal-Gool constituency healthcare centres are adequately equipped, minor requirements will be addressed in the 2025-26 financial year.
Identifying the Banihal-Ramban stretch as an accident-prone area, the Health Department has trained 3,977 personnel, including police officers, traffic police, fire and safety personnel, and medical staff, in Basic Life Support (BLS) and first aid to handle emergencies, Itoo said.
She said a designated trauma centre at DH Ramban serves the region, including trauma patients from Ramban and Banihal. SDH Banihal also provides medical care as a first referral institute. However, the minister clarified that a new trauma centre in Banihal is not planned, as guidelines require a minimum distance of 60 km between two such centres, while Ramban and Banihal are only 30 km apart.
