Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28:
For lack of a definite plot of land, the Tamei hospital for which the foundation stone was laid by the Governor on December 8 last year is yet to take off.
Notwithstanding the inability to start construction work till date, the villagers are hoping for construction of at least half of the hospital before Christmas.
The hospital which is to be constructed in the name of late Hungakthiu, father of Tamei village chairman Poukenpou will have a capacity of 50 beds besides providing facilities for in-patients.
The hospital will be constructed under the Local Area Development Fund of Rajya Sabha MP Rishang Keishing.
Even as there was no specific plot of land for the hospital to come up, the foundation stone for the hospital was laid in advance at the home plot of his younger brother, said Poukenpou while adding that since then the villagers have discussed the unavailability of land.
Talking to The Sangai Express, the village chairman informed that the villagers finally decided to construct the hospital at Tamah village, some 3 kms East of Tamei.
But there was no consensus among the villagers who earlier guaranteed land for the hospital.
It was because of this lack of consensus among the land donors which has been hindering construction of the Hospital, observed Poukenpou.
Now it has been agreed to construct the hospital at the plot of the village chairman himself .
The said plot is located at Liangmai village some 1.5 km away along the Tamei-Tamenglong road.
The land earmarked for the hospital at Liangmai is about ten acres.
So far, about three acres of land have been cleared of trees, informed Poukenpou.
Stating that levelling work will begin soon, he said that the dozer hired for the levelling was presently engaged in the road construction work from Tamei to Kuilong.
As the hill cutting work along the road was almost complete, the dozer would arrive at Tamei very shortly, he stated.
The village chairman also conveyed hope that half of the construction work might be completed before Dec 25 this year even if the whole 50 bedded hospital could not be completed.
He disclosed that MP Rishang Keishing would be visiting the village very soon to ensure that the construction work of the hospital is taken up on war footing.
Most of the villagers of Tamei and surrounding villages conveyed their desire to complete construction of the hospital at the earliest.
At present, the villagers are compelled to go to Imphal for any medical treatment as there is no health centre at their villages.
Even though there is one PHC, it has become non-functional since a long time back, they noted.
Hiring a vehicle to transport a patient to Imphal cost a huge amount in these impoverished villages, they informed.