Srinagar, February 24. 2013 : The Indian paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) continues to occupy the buildings at premier health institutions of the Kashmir Valley despite the claims of the administration that Indian forces have vacated all the important buildings in Kashmir. The erstwhile Animal House of the Soura Institute of Medical Sciences, with multi-storey building and over 20 Kanal of land, still continues to be under the occupation of CRPF personnel.
“The CRPF had occupied the building in early nineties and they still continue to be there. Expansion of the Emergency Department was also affected due to their unwillingness to leave the vital space despite several requests,” a senior official in the Soura Institute of Medical Sciences said in a media interview.
He said that the CRPF had also erected dozens of prefabricated barracks illegally on a large piece of land around the building. “Though we had already shifted the Animal House to other place but the expansion projects of the Institution were badly affected by their presence,” he added.
Similarly, the CRPF is occupying an old building near Super speciality Hospital of Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar, that hampers the expansion of the hospital project.
“We have already taken up the issue with the Divisional Commissioner as we need the land for the construction of Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) for the new hospital. But he is yet to respond,” Principal GMC Srinagar, Prof Rafiq Pampori said. He said that the requests were also sent to the CRPF higher ups regarding the space occupied by the forces in the SMHS Hospital premises, they too did not respond.
The paramilitary forces have erected two bunkers inside the SMHS Hospital and the Medical College in Srinagar premises since many years. “This place gives look of a garrison as you can see CRPF personnel moving everywhere. It is nuisance for the visiting doctors and patients coming to the hospital,” said a group of doctors.
At Valley’s lone Maternity Specialty, Lala Ded Hospital, the CRPF personnel are occupying the Staff Quarters leaving the employees short of space. The employees said that the huge space had been occupied by the CRPF inside the Staff Quarters that may provide the alternate space for the employees. News agencies