Bandipora, Jul 27: Nine years have passed, yet residents of Zurimanz village, located along Wular Lake in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, are still waiting for the completion of a New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC).
The village which falls under Aloosa Tehsil in Bandipora division, is home to a predominantly fishing community, dependent on Lakes produce.
Residents have largely given up hope as construction continues to stall. The delays have been blamed on funding shortages and a lack of commitment from contractors.
Construction of the NTPHC began in 2016 after the demolition of a single-storey, dilapidated building that had served as a health sub-centre.
The community was promised improved healthcare facilities, medical staff, and equipment, but villagers still silently watch in despair.
“Our wait doesn’t seem to end any time soon,” said Ghulam Nabi Lone, a local resident and also a fisherman while speaking to Greater Kashmir.
It has taken the executing agency almost eight years to raise the three-storey concrete structure.
Work has progressed intermittently, prompting residents to repeatedly approach the Deputy Commissioner’s office for intervention. Each time, locals shared, they returned with little progress made.
“The construction has been erratic and has witnessed long pauses. Sometimes we’re told it’s a funding issue. Other times, we hear the administration, the R&B Department and the contractor are not on the same page,” said Aqib Dar, another resident.
In 2024, some internal work was carried out on the ground and first floors. However, the majority of interior work remains incomplete.
“Most recently, work has been halted for the last 11 months,” Lone added. In the meantime, the NTPHC continues to operate from a single rundown room with no beds or basic facilities.
“We’re forced to travel to nearby villages for treatment. With the road often submerged under lake water during the summer months, it becomes very difficult to move critically ill patients,” said Farooq Ahmad, another villager.
Officials acknowledged there are ongoing funding challenges but also pointed fingers at the contractor for abandoning the project last year despite the release of funds.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, the Chief Medical Officer of Bandipora, Ishtiyaq Naik said the project had been allocated Rs 56 lakh last year. “But it all got lapsed as the contractor did not agree to continue the work,” he said.
Insiders have revealed that this year Rs 56 lakh was sanctioned for all ongoing healthcare projects in the district raising questions if any of the on going projects would be completed as Bandipora district in a whole has many such structures which are under construction process, mostly falling in Sumbal division.
The officer confirmed that while most health projects in Bandipora division have been “completed”, the Zurimanz facility remains an exception.
He added that the internal works in two storeys were “nearly complete” and that he had summoned the contractor to determine whether he was willing to resume work.
He expressed hope that a portion of funds was in discussion to be released in favor of the project to allow it to move forward but sounded sceptical if the contractor would be motivated.
