Srinagar, Oct 26 (KNS): The Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday urged the government to set a definite timeline for identifying land for the proposed maternity hospital in Anantnag, expressing concern that the project has remained unrealised for more than two decades despite repeated announcements.

In a statement issued to Kashmir News Service (KNS), the group said the project was first announced in 2004 and again in 2014-15, but successive assurances had failed to translate into its execution.

The GCC said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's recent assurance during the District Development Board meeting in Anantnag had renewed hopes for the long-pending project, but stressed that a clear timeline was necessary to prevent further delays.

Deliberating on the project's history, the group expressed anguish over what it described as repeated obstacles that had prevented the relocation of the existing Maternity and Child Hospital at Sher Bagh to a more suitable location.

The group alleged that vested interests had repeatedly obstructed the proposal, despite the need to identify a convenient site keeping in view the location of Government Medical College Anantnag and its associated hospitals.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

“An appropriate alternative location for the Maternity Hospital has become an urgent medical necessity. Given its huge importance, non-availability of state land should not be allowed to weigh down the project any longer,” the GCC said.

It suggested that the government consider acquiring suitable privately owned land in accordance with the law if adequate state land was unavailable.

The group maintained that difficulties in identifying government land should not continue to hold up a project considered essential for maternal and child healthcare in the district.

Referring to the Chief Minister's recent assurance, the GCC said it hoped the latest commitment would finally result in concrete action rather than meet the fate of previous announcements.

“A new hope has come up with the Chief Minister's assertion at the DDB meeting which, we trust, finally comes out true unlike repeat assurances over two decades past,” the statement said.

The group urged the administration to move beyond assurances and initiate time-bound measures for identifying and securing land for the proposed hospital. (KNS)