Monkeys roam the GMC, administration helpless to deal with menace

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, July 26: After the passage of about one month the administration is still failed to demolish the menace of monkeys in the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu premises. Sources said that the administration keeping their eyes closed doing nothing to sort out the problem. 

It was also seen that monkeys used to snatch fruits and other eatable items from the visitors and attendants in the hospital. 

Many times the people complain about the terror of monkeys in the hospital to the concern authorities but nothing has been done to remove them from there so far. The presence of monkeys in the hospital add troubles to the problems of the patients and attendants as. 
Sources maintained that the monkeys are making the hospital environment unhygienic due to which patients care suffers. 

Manoj Sharma an attendant said monkeys in the hospital creating hurdles for the patients adding that sometimes the monkeys in the corridors of the hospital making difficult for us to have lunch. 
Sharma further said the administration concern is doing nothing to come out of this problem after several complaints in this regard nothing concrete has been done. 
Despite repeating attempts Medical Superintendent GMCH, Jammu Dr Manoj Chalotra said he is in meeting so unable to talk. 

Two years ago when monkeys had created a piquant situation in the Chief Ministers secretariat in Jammu the state wild life department was roped in instantly to capture and translocate them to Nandini wildlife sanctuary on the Jammu-Srinagar National highway.

Along with Chief Ministers secretariat rampaging monkeys were trapped from Mubarak Mandi heritage complex, Govt women college, Parade, Ramnagar, Reasi town, Lakhanpur, Basohli, Gorikund and Akhnoor by the state wild life department and translocated to their natural habitat in the vicinity between October 2008 and 2011. In all a total number of 2,471 monkeys were captured and translocated to different destinations during the same period. 

Ironically, the hapless patients and their attendants admitted in the Government Medical college hospital continue to suffer and deal with the monkey menace on daily basis. 

The hospital authorities are simply not waking up and the entire state machinery is reluctant to act, endangering the lives of patients admitted in the hospital.

JMC makes fitness certificate necessary for people serving food in Dhabas, restaurants

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, July 29: From now on the food handlers in road side Dhabas and Chefs in five star hotels will have to pass a fitness test before seeking extension of the license in Jammu, to ensure that people get healthy food. 

The decision has been taken as per the Government of India’s Food Act 2006 which has laid down specific norms for the people who deal with the consumers directly.Officials said that corporation has also launched a special awareness among the people associated with hotel and restaurant industry to ensure that sanitation is maintained. 

The rampant adulteration in the commodities and lack of proper sanitation in different parts of city increases the risk of the spreading of the diseases in the upcoming rainy season. 

Further people of the city alleged that many edible products such as the paneer, dahi, ghee, milk and many others were being adulterated by the suppliers which has made it difficult for them to intake all this. Many sweets such as ras malai and many other sweets made from the khoya were also mixed due to which many chances of spread of many dreadful diseases. 

Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has directed all the Dhaba owners and restaurants to get fitness certificate for their food handlers and ensure that they are vaccinated for communicable diseases. 

“All those people who come under direct contact with food have to demonstrate fitness for work. And renewal certificate will only be issued when the certificate is produced”, said a officer. 

Officials said that the food handlers would also have to be vaccinated against diseases as per the schedule defined by the medical practioners, failing to adhere to which no fitness certificate would be issued and their license would be cancelled. 

Those who intend to get or extend license from JMC have to their medical fitness certificate from any registered medical practitioners. 

Health Officer JMC, Dr Vinod Sharma said, “It is in the interest of the people and field staff have been directed to go tough with the people who are not taking the direction seriously. There are hundreds of people working in many Dhabas and restaurants in the city and it is applicable to all”, Sharma said.

Power crisis in Jammu

Hospitals dependent on generators for running critical services

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 24: Due to the electricity deficiency and long power cuts the hospitals in the city depends upon generators for the smooth working and to avoid any problem.

According to the sources the hospitals administration are facing problems owing power cuts in the medical institutions in the winter capital of the state forcing them to depends on the generation for their electricity needs.

Sources further said that from the long time the city record heavy power cuts in the day time as well as night creating problems to the Jammuites.

“Now this is also holds its grip on the patients and due to routine cuts the patients as well as attendants suffers” said official.

Moreover it also affects the water supply in the hospitals besides the patients and attendants deprived of the cold water from the water coolers installed in the hospitals.

One of the attendant Ravi Kumar said the power become a routine in the hospital as well sometime the authority start generators but many time we have to face the hot weather when the generator is not working.

He further said it adds troubles to our problem when the power cuts are during night.

Sources maintained at various instances the authority Power Development Department for supply of electricity supply round the clock, but nothing has been done so far.

One of the doctor on the condition of anonymity said it is very difficult concentrate on patients in the hot summer when there is frequent power cuts.

“Across Jammu most of the people are literally sleepless during past two days, as they are not only facing frequent cuts, but long hours of power shutdown”, Sailash Kumari, Principal of school.

Entire region is under grip of power shortage despite the claims by the PDD that additional power is being pumped in the region to meet the growing demands during the summer months.

Northern Regional Load Dispatch Centre (NRLDC) has been warning Jammu and Kashmir about the excess withdrawal of electricity for last over a month and in past one week, it has received 50 warnings.

Several residential localities, which include Paloura, Gandhi Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Channi, Parade, Kachi Chawni, Janipur, Roop Nagar and Bari-Brahman are worst affected.

Construction of slaughterhouse

 JMC amends its tender, creates confusion for contractors

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 23: While establishment of modern slaughterhouse at Jagti has been facing constant delay, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) has amended its tender notice which could further create confusion among the contractors bidding for the project.

JMC has issued tender on April 4, but today corporation has amended the tender notice and has  incorporated new terms and conditions for the construction of slaughterhouse. 

The total project cost is Rs 20 crore, off which for the first phase, Rs 1.53 crore have been released by Central Government while another Rs 1.50 crore have been released by state government, but so far the groundwork has not been started mainly because, corporation delayed the issuance of  tenders.

At present the slaughter houses run from residential localities of Dogra hall and Gujjar Nagar. The two slaughterhouses, constructed in 1947 in these two residential colonies, are source of inconvenience for residents of these colonies.

Even the residents are eagerly waiting for the shifting of the slaughterhouse and said that people are facing a big health threat. Ravi Kumar, a resident of Dogra Hall, said, “During summer, foul smell coming out from the slaughterhouse spreads everywhere, thus making the life miserable for us. It should be shifted immediately”.

Expressing annoyance against the Municipal Corporation, an official said that such changes creates confusion among the companies coming forward to construct it.

“Just after one month the corporation woke from sleep and decided to change some of the terms and conditions. Why they waited for such a long period, when many of the companies had submitted their bids”, official said.

The shifting of primitive slaughterhouses from the residential areas to the outskirts of the city has faced years of delays. The project was first taken up about 30 years back, but due to lack of funds it saw a long delay.

Joint Commissioner JMC Babu Ram said that corporation has made some amendments but it will not affect the project.

“There are some minor changes in our tender. Many companies are coming forward after the issuance of tender and we hope to start work soon", Ram said.

Shortage of life saving ventilators in GMC

Inquiry committee says no discrepancies in purchase of ventilators


Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, July 21: The enquiry committee which was constituted regarding the discrepancy in purchase of ventilators in the emergency ward of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) has said that there is no discrepancies in their purchase. 

Talking to TNI In-Charge Principle, GMCH Jammu, Dr. Aniece Chowdhary said that in both the reports the allegations concerning scam of ventilators in new emergency block have proved false. 

Dr Chowdhary maintained as per the reports the missing ventilators from the block are actually under repairing. 

It is pertinent to mention here that the after the reply of one of the RTI filed by Som Nath Dabgotra seeking information regarding the quality, quantity, cost and name of purchasing committee of equipments installed in new emergency block of GMCH. 

As per the reply of RTI there should be 14 ventilators in New Emergency Block of GMCH but now at present there are only eight ventilators installed. 

Moreover Dabgotra said that if an independent body will investigate all the equipments about their quality, cost, name of purchasing committee with of all the equipments, amount allocated, amount actually spent on construction of GMCH besides operation theaters, lifts, cabins, fire system, water system, sanitation system, lighting air condition system then there will be more than 100 crore scam in GMCH. 

Dabgotra maintained that if one equipment that is the ventilator has scam of more than one crore, so how much level of corruption will be found after investigating all these equipments. 

The only government-run specialised Gynaecology and Paediatrics hospital in the region - Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital - has only one ventilator functional. 

Sources revealed that the hospital has only one ventilator as of now and all patients who are required to be put on artificial respiratory support system are shifted to already over-burdened Government Medical College hospital (GMC) Jammu. They said that about one year back administration had procured an additional ventilator for the new Paediatrics block, but it is also lying nonp-functional as there are no required doctors and para-medical staff. 

“Hospital is faced with shortage of manpower, equipment and infrastructure but we cannot do anything in this regard as decision has to be taken by the government to fill the vacancies to run equipments. We have to wait for the decisions of the administration” said a senior Doctor, preferring not to be named. 

Pertinent to mention here that 550-bed hospital was overburdened with the burgeoning number of patients. 

The hospital accommodates more than 700 indoor patients on regular basis - a number beyond its existing capacity. Officials said that it is not only the lack of ventilators but the shortage of the doctors and para-medical staff was also casting shadow on the other departments like ENT and related branches of medical science.

Census over but dues yet to be cleared

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 19: The Census-2012 operation have been over since months but the nodal department had not cleared the dues of those who acted as supervisors and computer operators during the whole exercise.

According to sources, the work for the data gathering from all the wards and villages was started in February and suppose to complete within a period of 40 days but it took 20 extra days to complete. 

Sources further said that a private agency also hired some computer operates to feed the records for smooth working of the process, but did not provide any wages to all those operators.

One of the supervisor Rakesh Kumar said we are working hard for continues for two months but still after the completion of three months the department is still not paying the dues.

“The work of the government is going on slow pace every time when we have completed the work on time then why delay in providing payment” Kumar said.

Another computer operator Garu Ram said that it was very tuff to complete the work on time as there are too much data to be feed on computer besides this we have to visit different places to collect the data. Garu further said that government is failed to provide us such a small amount then how they managed work with other employees.

When contacted, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) K L Khajuria said “I don’t have any knowledge about the concern matter and will look into it and find out the solution.

De-addition center at Amphalla hospital, defunct for last three years

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 16: Notwithstanding the tall claims of state government that a number of steps are being taken to eradicate the menace of drugs addiction, the lone drug de-addiction centre of winter capital at Government Psychiatry Hospital is lying defunct for the past three years.

According to the sources this the drug de-addiction center was establish to cure the drug addicted people of the region but due to one reason or the other the concern department is unable to make it fully functional from long time.

Sources further said that there is a acute shortage of such centres running by the state government so government should come forward to help the needy people who wants to leave the bad addictions of smoking and drinking.

They further revealed that private doctors provide only consultation which is not helpful to get them out of drug addiction as proper care, 24 hour supervision and specialized staff and doctors are the basic requirements which sans in these institutions.

But from last three years the government is failed to provide the same left people helplessly.

It is pertinent to mention here that de-addition centres in meant to treat the person suffering from addiction of smoking and drinking.

Drug de-addiction treatment is very sensitive and critical in nature which involved proper care of the victim.

When contacted Head of Psychiatry Hospital Dr Jagdish Raj Thappa said that due to the shortage of medical and paramedical staff in the hospital the department is not able to start the centre.

Dr Thappa further said that on every Wednesday and Firday we have started a Out Patient Department (OPD) in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu.

However, the indoor facility is still not available in the hospital due to the unavailability of staff as the department has only two doctors at present to cope up the OPD unit only.

“Within four months the government is going to start a 26 bedded de-addiction indoor centre besides 100 bedded Psychiatry Hospital the work of which is in progress” said Dr Thappa.

Regarding the recruitment of the state Dr Thappa disclosed that we have sent the proposal to the higher authorities for two posts of lecturer, one for assistant professor, four clinical staff besides consultant and nursing staff.

Completion of Super Specialty hospital nowhere in sight

Delay in installation of MoT, slows down the work in hospital

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 14: After missing several deadlines, the Super Specialty Hospital of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu is still far from completion, as Modular Operation Theatre (MoT) is yet to be installed.

According to officials initially set to be completed in the year 2008, but the executing agencies have sought extension many times to complete the mega project in Jammu.

The proposed hospital, on completion will have six super specialties, including Cardiology, Cardio Thoracic Surgery, Urology, Neurology, Neuro-Surgery and Nephrology.

This is not the first time when the government has not achieved its target, but many times before the deadline has been extended to launch the super specialty hospital.

Approved in February 2004 by the then Union Government and started during the then Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad led coalition Government, the hospital, which will be part of the GMCH Jammu, has fails to achieve many deadlines.

The construction of the hospital was approved in February 2004 by the then Union Government and work on the project was started during the tenure of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. For the Rs 120 crore project, state has received Rs 100 crore from the centre, while Rs 20 crore were contributed by the state government.

Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, M K Dewadi said the government is unable to operate the Super Specialist Hospital due to the unavailability of Modular Operation Theater (MoT) as Central Public Works Department (CPWD) who assigned its installation work to HLL.

Dewadi informed that HLL asked for more three months to complete the work.

“All other work including recruitment process of medical and paramedical staff is done” he said.

Dewadi maintained that as it is already delay to start functioning of the hospital so we are planning to start only these part of the hospital where we the MoT is not required so that should be no further delay.

Regarding the Super Specialist doctors which is also required to run the hospital he said if we didn’t get any full time then we appoint party time super specialist doctors.

For sending 20 doctors for specialized training at AIIMS New Delhi and PGI Chandigarh, to man the upcoming super specialty hospital Dewadi said he don’t have any knowledge whether they have been sent or not.

Railway fails Amarnath pilgrims

Chaotic conditions at Jammu station, no arrangement to face pilgrim rush

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, July 13: During the Amarnath Yatra season when the state government is doing every possible arrangement to make the yatra comfortable for them in the state, on the other hand the Northern Railway has no such special arrangement for yartis.

On the visit of Jammu Railway Station one can observe heavy rush of tourists most of them are coming for Amarnath Yatra these days across the country.

At the reservation section of the railway authorities has made eleven counters including general reservation, tatkal reservation service and enquiry counter but only five counters are open to cope up the heavy rush of passengers.

The other counters are not working due to some reasons best known to the concern authorities due to which the passengers have to wait for hours to get reservation in long queue for their turn.

Besides this there is no sitting facility provided by the concern administration forcing to sit the passengers on floor waiting for their turn.

Moreover the condition of the toilets in the reservation section is also very bad adding troubles to their problems.

Rakesh Tiwari from Utter Pardesh said “I am waiting to take the reservation from last about 5 hours”.

He further said that from morning he was in queue where the tatkal reservation is being done but when his turn comes the counter is close and I was told by the stand in another queue for my turn.

Some passenger alleged that the railway officials black the tickets with the travel agents causing problems to get reservation for the passengers who are waiting at reservation counter for hours.

Passengers also said that the behavior of the official on the reservation is very rude to the passengers.

When contacted Divisional Traffic Manager Railway R N Meena said that at present the railway has shortage of staff due to which we are operating only five counters for reservation.

“As the recruitment process in going on so this problem will be sort out soon” added Meena.

Regarding the maintenance and cleanse of the reservation section and toilets Meena said that he will look into the matter and do the needful at earliest.

Thanks to Govt. apathy: Patnitop, a neglected paradise of J&K

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, July 08: Though the government is spending crores of rupees to develop the tourist places in Kashmir valley, but in Jammu region, most of the potential tourist spots have been neglected. 

One such place, Patnitop, a paradise in the region is facing total neglect from the government and tourism department and not much funds have been released for its development. 

Every year thousands of tourists thousands of tourists visit Patnitop to relax themselves in summer and enjoy the snowfall in winters. But these days the condition of this famous spot is shambles due to the negligence of the concern department. 

One can observe polythene bags and other waste material in different areas of Patnitop which reflects the ugly face of this old picnic spot. 

Besides this there are no such parking arrangements to cop up the heavy rush of vehicles resulting heavy traffic congestion of vehicles during peak season. 
Moreover the sanitation facilities are also very bad adding troubles to the tourists to enjoy their trip. 
While talking to TNI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patnitop Development Authority, (PDA) Raman Kesar said that he has joined the department just two months back and didn’t have much knowledge about the matter. 

However, Keasar revealed that PDA has planned to setup three more parking places around the area so that parking problem should be sort-out. 

“The work is in process to clean the garbage dumped in different part of Patnitop besides regular cleaning facility will also provide make environment clean” added Kesar. 

Kesar maintained that regarding sanitation facility the department is planned to construct some more toilets and within 20 days all other shortcoming will be improvement to smoothen the tourist flow. 
Further the ambitious ropeway project is still a dream and is still hanging in balance. 

Pertinent to mention here that on August 9, 2007, the government had entered into an agreement with the Nagarjuna Construction Company to construct ropeway project at Patnitop. It would have been the first ever project of its kind in the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir with the 100 per cent financial support from a private player. 

They were to invest more than Rs 90 crore on the basis on build operate and transfer (BOT) agreement.