CPM stages stir against delay in hospital construction

Tirupur: CPM cadre on Friday staged a protest at Four Road Junction in Madathukulam against the State government for allegedly delaying construction of a government hospital.

The protesters alleged that a private company, which bagged the contract for the construction work, was demanding more money than that was allocated for the work and the public works department (PWD) was yet to take a decision on it, thus leading to the delay.

After Madathukulam was demarcated as a separate taluk five years ago, government upgraded the Madathukulam Primary Health Centre to a taluk hospital. It allocated Rs 30 lakh for the construction work and also stated that further funds will be allocated for procuring medical equipments and furniture. PWD had started the construction work of the 30-bed facility in early 2016.

"The construction works are going on for more than a year. When we queried about the delay, PWD sources said the contractor was demanding more money than what was allocated to finish the work since the cost has gone up. It is not clear when the works will be completed," Madathukulam CPM secretary R Panneerselvam told TOI.

Since Madathukulam falls in Tirupur-Dindigul border, the GH is expected to benefit lakhs of residents in the taluk as well as the residents of Saminathapuram and Thalaiyam villages in Dindigul. Due to the absence of such a facility, the residents have to reach Udumalpet GH, which is 20km away from Madathukulam.