The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Water scarcity ails Vellore medical college hospital

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Mar 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Water scarcity ails Vellore medical college hospital

By P.V.V. Murthi

VELLORE, MARCH 15. The 300-bed Government Vellore Medical College Hospital (GVMCH) at Adukkamparai, about 10 km from here, has been reeling under water scarcity since it was inaugurated on December 8, 2004 by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Not only patients but also doctors and para-medical staff have been affected.

Rationing

A visit to the hospital shows that water is supplied from the only borewell there and rationing has been adopted. Water is pumped once or twice a day. Patients and their relatives staying with them, doctors and paramedical staff will have to store water for the day. Consequently, toilets which are used frequently become dirty, says the mother of a patient.

Water scheme plan

When contacted, the dean, V. Thamizharasi, said the scarcity in the hospital is part of the water problem the district is facing. The hospital is managing with the existing borewell and three new ones sunk for construction of the new 300-bed block at a cost of Rs. 52.8 crores. The new borewells have yielded sufficient water.

Permanent remedy

As a permanent measure, a Rs. 2.5-crore proposal has been sent to the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board for implementation of a scheme for supplying water to the hospital.

The Public Works Department has to pay Rs. 6.5 lakhs to the TWAD Board for the investigation, says the dean.

The general health, diabetes, blood pressure, dermatology, leprosy, mental health, paediatric, immunisation, anti-rabies, filariasis and malaria units were shifted to the Adukkamparai campus from January 21, 2004. After the inauguration of the new building, all other departments, including casualty, were shifted to fulfil Medical Council of India (MCI) norms for getting recognition for the medical college, which the Government proposed to start in 2005-06.

A three-member MCI team inspected the GVMCH on December 22, 2004. The final inspection is expected anytime.

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