Jammu, Mar 6. The much-awaited Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Burzuhama, falling in the jurisdiction of the Hazratbal Assembly Segment remains in limbo as bureaucratic hurdles and objections from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have stalled its construction, forcing authorities to consider an alternate site for the project.
National Conference legislator from Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly today. In response, the Minister In-charge of Health & Medical Education Department revealed that the project was initially approved in 2013-14 under the State Sector Capex Budget with an estimated cost of ₹179 lakh. However, despite the release of ₹17 lakh, construction could not proceed as the proposed site falls within ASI jurisdiction.
To resolve the deadlock, the Intizamia Committee of Burzuhama offered a piece of Auqaf land for the facility’s construction at an alternate site. However, the process of transferring this land to the Health & Medical Education Department has been stuck in bureaucratic red tape for nearly a decade. “Repeated communications with the Revenue Authority, including the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, were made in 2016, 2018, 2019, and as recently as 2024, but the transfer has not yet materialized.”
Given the prolonged delay, the government has now decided to explore the feasibility of constructing the health facility at the alternate site, with an assurance that appropriate funding will be allocated for its timely execution.
Residents of Burzuhama have long demanded better healthcare infrastructure, and the delay in this critical project has only added to their woes. [KNT]
