Harshini Brahmavar
Pics: Jeevan D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Sep 1: As per the privatization agreement entered into with non-resident Indian businessman Dr B R Shetty, the land belonging to children and women's hospital presently falling under the district hospital at Ajjarkad in the city, has been handed over to Shetty.

City-based businessman and founder of Corporation Bank, Haji Abdulla Saheb, had donated about one and half acres of land for the construction of government hospital here with welfare of the general public in mind with certain conditions.

Currently, total land area here measures 3.6 acres. As per the plans, a building will be constructed first, after which the patients will be shifted to the new building from the old. Thereafter, the old structure would be demolished and a new hospital building will be constructed. As per the current proposal, a 400-bed hospital with an investment of Rs 200 crore will be established here.

The state government has already given its green signal for this proposal. As per information received, chief minister, Siddaramaiah, has decided to hand over the land along with hospital and other buildings standing on it, to Shetty. This was done through direct understanding entered into between the state government and Shetty, and preparations are underway to build multiple buildings here.

Some political leaders have been opposing the privatization of the district hospital here. When district in-charge minister Pramod Madhwaraj, was approached about this proposal, he said, duly feigning ignorance about the agreement, that the matter is yet to come to his notice and that he will come to know only after going through the issue and making enquiries.

As per procedure, although direct dealing was sealed at the cabinet meeting at the state level, the proposal has to come from the district level with recommendations. It is surprising that the district in-charge minister is unaware of an agreement entered into about four months back. As if by coincidence, in his election manifesto, Pramod had spoken about converting the district hospital into multi speciality hospital, duly adding that if there is shortfall in grants, he would pool resources through donors to make this happen. At the same time a former MLA of his party has objected to the privatization proposal.

The city is growing fast, and except for certain departments, government desires to get support of non-government organizations for the development. A pertinent question here is what will happen if an individual comes forward to do something which the government has been unable to? Although the district hospital was upgraded, it is still on the beginning stage of upgradation process. The children and women's hospital which is being taken up for development, has facilities in place but it does not have a proper parking place even for the ambulance. Another building belonging to it stands on the front side, but it has been lying neglected, and suffers from unclean environment that is full of standing grass.