Keonjhar: The construction of buildings for the Keonjhar Government Medical College and Hospital is progressing at Brahmanigaon in the town, but the government has reportedly been carrying out the work without a gazette notification.
As per government guidelines, approval of the town planning authority for such projects is mandatory, but surprisingly the town planning authorities have not given their nod for the project, it is learnt. It is funded by the District Mineral Foundation (DMF).
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik laid its foundation stone November 2, 2016. Tata Projects Limited was awarded the contract for construction at a cost of Rs 381.87 crore. The construction started September 24, 2017.
Many want to know how construction could be given the go-ahead without approval of the town planning authority. They have voiced serious doubts about the standard of construction and pace of work.
They demanded to know how such a reputed construction company can execute the mega healthcare project without nod from the town planning authority.
It is also learnt that the PWD is not monitoring the work. The PWD gets it done by SMC, a private agency raising questions.The agency is taking lakhs every month from DMF for monitoring the construction.
Prashant Kumar Parida, the special planning officer of Keonjhar town planning authority, confirmed that construction is going on without approval.
As a formality, the Keonjhar town planning authority has slapped a notice and is sitting pretty after that. The land on which the medical college is being constructed has not been converted.
ADM Bhakta Charan Pradhan and PWD executive engineer Ashok Kumar Giri were not available for comments when contacted on phone.
Pratap Chandra Mishra, the resident construction manager of Tata Projects Limited, said that the PWD or the health department should clarify on the issue. However, CDMO Dr S. Gadanayak said the plan was approved.