South Goa district hospital gets October deadline

Margao: October is now the new deadline for the commissioning of the new district hospital at Margao. This was agreed upon at the meeting of the committee on public undertakings headed by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat with officials of Goa State Infrastructural Development Corporation (GSIDC) and directorate of health services (DHS).

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kamat said that the work of commissioning of the hospital got delayed as three different works are yet to be completed. As per the revised schedule, Kamat said, the laying of gas pipeline as well as setting up of the sewerage treatment plant will be completed by the first week of September. Operation theatres are also yet to be completed.

“As these works could not be completed in time, other works got held up,” Kamat explained. “The tentative date for handing over of the hospital by GSIDC to DHS is now September-end. The DHS says it will require about a month for them to complete the shifting over to the new hospital (from Hospicio). They are ready with the plan. As regards procurement of equipment, most of the items have been procured or tendered. Our efforts will be to commission the hospital by October.”

While the first three floors will house the 500-bedded hospital, Kamat said that no decision has been taken with regards to the utilisation of the fourth and fifth floors as yet.