Gund Chogal Villagers, Civil Society Protest Relocation Of GMC Handwara Kupwara

Gund Chogal Villagers, Civil Society Protest Relocation Of GMC Handwara

Kupwara

Tarique Raheem

Kupwara, Aug 3

The residents of Gund Chogal and civil society members from Pohru Chakla Sunday registered a peaceful protest against proposed relocation of the Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara from its current site. The protesters impressed upon the Central Government to intervene and fulfill its earlier commitment to accomplish the GMC project by 2025 as promised.

The protesters said that the announcement of relocation has left the community bewildered and disheartened. "We are shocked by this sudden decision. When the government first approved this location for the GMC, the entire village was filled with hope and optimism. Farmers willingly vacated their land, which had been cultivated for generations. Many even felled trees to clear the area, viewing it as a pathway to development and prosperity for the entire region," said a protestor Advocate Noor Ul Shahbaz of Pohrupeth.

"The relocation has been justified by the government on the grounds of flood risks, but why weren’t such risks identified earlier in the planning phase? Why were these issues overlooked before public funds were allocated and the site approved?" he added.

The protesters said that they feel betrayed ever since the announcement of proposed relocation of the college. "We feel betrayed. The funds spent so far are taxpayer money, and this abrupt change in plans is a misuse of those resources. A three-storey structure has already been constructed at the site, with nearly ₹60 crore spent in its construction so how can Omar Abdullah led government take decision of shifting this institution from our area when we have sacrificed our land and economy for it," said Nisar Ahmad.

"We demand accountability from the authorities who approved the site without conducting a thorough risk assessment. The people of Gund Chogal deserve transparency. We urge the government to take responsibility for this oversight and ensure those responsible for the approval process are held accountable." he further added.

"The government can adopt modern techniques to mitigate flood risks, such as river dredging and the construction of flood barriers. Relocating the college is not only a waste of resources but also an unnecessary decision," argued another protestor.

The protesters further alleged that a recent statement by the Health Minister about laying a new foundation stone for GMC Handwara suggests an attempt to relocate the project and erase the contribution of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had laid the original foundation stone a few years ago.

Locals who had assembled in good number at the current site construction site of GMC Handwara raised slogans against the National Conference (NC) government for allegedly facilitating the transfer of GMC Handwara from Chogal to another location.

The residents have demanded a fair and transparent investigation into the reasons behind the proposed relocation. They appealed to the authorities to avoid politicizing the issue and to prioritize public welfare and developmental goals.

Tariqueraheem1920@gmail.com