With the imposition of model code of conduct in the state approaching near, Chief Minister Harish Rawat is on a spree of inaugurations and foundation stone laying ceremonies these days. However, amid the flurry of activities, the level of enthusiasm has reached such a level that he is now slated to ‘lay the foundation stone’ of a building which has been under construction for more than two years now.
This scenario is set for Wednesday when the CM would lay the foundation stone of the under construction new OPD block of the associated hospital of Government Doon Medical College (GDMC). The ceremony would also be attended by Medical education Minister Dinesh Dhanai and parliamentary secretary and Rajpur road MlA, Rajkumar.
After the state government decided to amalgamate the erstwhile District male and female hospitals (Doon hospital and Doon female hospital) with Doon medical college to fulfill the criteria of an associated hospital of medical college, the need to expand facilities in the hospital was felt. The state government then handed over a piece of land located on Tehsil Chowk for construction of new OPD blocks. The task of construction of OPD blocks was handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Nirman Nigam limited.
The work on the OPD block- an imposing four floor building is in final stages of completion and if the remaining budget to the construction agency is released in time it is expected that the building would be constructed within three to four months. However the decision to lay the foundation stone of an under construction building has raised many eyebrows. “A team of Medical Council of India (MCI) for renewing the lOP is expected any time and instead of such cheap political gimmicks the state government should have put pressure on the construction agency to expedite the pending work.
It is really outrageous that foundation stone laying ceremony of the OPD block is being organised as the work on the building is on verge of completion. But one should expect such things during election time,’’ said one of a doctor of the associated hospital.
When inquired the Medical Education director, Dr Ashutosh Sayana said that the Chief Minister would lay foundation stone of a new block in an open piece of land adjacent to the under construction building.