SHILLONG: Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek has expressed surprise over the opposition to the construction of the Reid Chest Hospital (TB Hospital) which has been proposed to be shifted from Jhalupara to Umsawli.
Speaking to media persons here on Monday, Hek said, “Tuberculosis is curable and no longer an isolation disease so I do not see any negative impact if the hospital comes up there (Umsawli).”
The Government’s plans to shift the Reid Chest Hospital from Jhalupara to Umsawli to pave way for the Shillong Medical College has been opposed by the Dorbar Shnong of Mawpat, Umsawli.
According to Hek, it is getting difficult for projects to take off as the government has to take permission from Dorbar Shnong on numerous occasions even if the constructions, taken up in public interest, are on government land.
“Sometimes the Dorbar Shnong keeps the reply pending as a result of which no government project can take off,” he said.
Assuring that the TB Hospital would not be shifted from its current location until the new infrastructure is ready, Hek said that it would be a challenge to complete the building at Umsawli in the stipulated three years as one year has almost passed by without much progress being made.