Govt calls for substantial expansion of public utilities at Katra

 KATRA/Jammu, November 10 (Scoop News)- N. N. Vohra, Governor, inaugurated a newly constructed 30-bedded Emergency Hospital at Katra, the Base Camp of the Holy Shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji today.

          This double-storey Hospital, with a plinth area of about 25,000 square feet, has been completed in 20 months by the Jammu and Kashmir Police Housing Corporation, at a cost of Rs. 5.80 crore. The Hospital is equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment facilities.   

          Speaking on the occasion, the Governor congratulated  Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Health, the State Health Department and the Police Housing Corporation for completion of this Hospital within good time. He emphasized the need for the quality of emergency healthcare facilities being maintained at Katra, particularly keeping in view the emerging needs of the people of the area and the progressively increasing number of Yatris. He added that this newly constructed Emergency Hospital would need to particularly provide medical attention in the areas of Cardiology, Orthopaedics and Surgery to see that there is a progressive decline in the number of patients who are referred to the Government Medical College, Jammu.

          The Governor said that with the arrival of train services at Katra in the coming months the number of Yatris directly reaching here will go up considerably and, therefore, there is a need to plan, without any further delay, all vital facilities like wide internal roads, water and power supplies, sanitation, traffic management, etc. to particularly meet the further needs.

          Referring to the various development schemes taken up by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the Governor, who is the Chairman of the Shrine Board, observed that the upcoming Material Ropeway Project between Siar Dabri to Bhawan and Passenger Ropeway from Bhawan to Bhairo Ghati are aimed to meet the future requirement of the fast increasing pilgrimage. He added that these two projects are estimated to cost about Rs. 65 crore. He added that Board has also undertaken several other major development projects, for the benefit of the Yatris.

          The Governor was honoured on the occasion by presenting a memento to him by  Sham Lal Sharma, Health Minister.          

          The Governor went around the various sections of the Hospital Complex and enquired about the diagnostic and treatment facilities made available for the patients.

           Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Health, thanked the Governor for taking keen interest in the development of the State, particularly in promotion of healthcare services across the State. He dwelt on various measures which have been taken by the Government to provide best possible medicare to the people in the State. He lauded the State Police Housing Corporation for constructing the hospital building in the shortest possible time frame.   

           Baldev Raj Sharma, MLA, Reasi, thanked the Governor and the Shrine Board for taking varied initiatives that have led to increase in the pilgrimage, which is expected to cross one crore this year. He referred to several development-related demands of the area.    

          Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director Health Services, Jammu, in her welcome address dwelt on the facilities to be provided at this newly constructed Emergency Hospital.

          Dr. Adarsh Bhagat, Chief Medical Officer, Reasi, presented a Vote of Thanks.

 R. K. Goyal, Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Commissioner/Secretary, Health,  G. A. Peer, Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board,  Jagjit Kumar, DIG Udhampur,  P. K. Pole, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi,  Keshav Chaurasia, SSP Reasi,  M. A. Shah, Managing Director, Police Housing Corporation, Heads of Departments and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.