Two land donors are most piqued with the government. These land donors donated their precious land measuring one and a half acre for one 50 bed hospital at Matnan Chotag on the latehar Railway Station Road some nine years back. This hospital is still a non starter. The land donors feel disheartened.
The land donors are Gyanchand Pandey and Damodar Mahalka. Pandey hails from Daltonganj while Mahalka from latehar.
Pandey, who is a noted face in Palamu and latehar said, “I donated my one acre of land. Mahalka donated half acre of land. The building is there but it is no hospital. There is no doctor no ANM no para medics etc. We feel we were taken for a ride. We just want this hospital to start catering to the needs of the ailing people.”
Asked as to what course he or his co-donor would like to take now since many years have elapsed and this hospital is a non starter Pandey said, “We want this hospital to start. If the state Government is not interested in this then give this hospital to us. We will show how it is run.”
Asked if he or his co-donor would like to reclaim the land so donated Pandey said “We have this right with us since the purpose of our donating land stands defeated and none of us is any responsible. We may think over this reclaiming the donated land.”
Circle Officer of Medininagar Sheoshanker Pandey said, “The donors anger is well justified. They have a right to ask for the start of this hospital. But so far reclaiming the donated land there is the hitch as the government has built there a multi lakh building and thus a government asset is there no matter it is not now a hospital.”
A doctor of latehar Government hospital Surender K Singh said that the 50 bed hospital is not of the State health department. It is of State Welfare department, which wanted to have a hospital for tribal and primitive tribal people. The Welfare department has got neither the post of doctor, ANMs & other staff neither sanctioned nor is there any one here even on deputation and hence it is a non starter.
The donated land is now worth 70 to 80 lakh as per the prevalent market price for land.