TEAM HERALD
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MARGAO: As work on the proposed district hospital is progressing at a snail’s pace with the government yet to take a call whether to utilise a portion of the building for a medical college or to conduct paramedical courses, a local NGO has served a notice on the Health Director threatening to file a civil suit if no action is initiated to complete the project.
Sources in the know said that internal work on the building has indeed come to a halt as the agency executing the project is awaiting further instructions from the government on how to go about the task. “We need to carry out different internal works if the portion of the building is to be used for a medical college or to conduct paramedical courses. Even the electrical fittings would depend on the government decision,” the source said, adding “unless this decision is taken, we cannot go ahead with the internal work.”
Work on the project had commenced around three years ago during the tenure of the previous Congress-led government headed by Digambar Kamat. However, after the return of the Parrikar government, the dispensation was in two minds whether to start the second medical college or to start a paramedical course in the same building.
Meanwhile, Adv Radharao Gracias on behalf of his client Green Goa Foundation has asked the Chief Secretary and the Health Director to commence work on the building and complete the same at the earliest. “I further call upon you to forthwith and without any delay take protective measures to prevent the exposed steel rods from rusting and weakening by completing the structural works. In case, no action is taken within 60 days of receipt of this notice, my client will file a civil suit before the district judge at Margao, seeking directions from the government to take up and complete work on the district hospital and in the interim period to complete the structural works to prevent damage to the exposed steel rods,” Adv Gracias said in the notice.
