Makeshift Covid care centre at Kandwari opposed

Palampur, January 3

Residents of the Kandwari area, 10 km from here, yesterday held a protest over the decision of the district administration to set up a Covid care hospital in their village.

They said that the site selected by the administration for the creation of a 200-bed Covid care hospital was too close to the residential areas and the virus could spread in the village. Therefore, the government should review its decision.

The Radha Soami Satsang management, following a dispute with the district administration, had served a notice on it seeking vacation of its complex at Paror, where a 300-bed makeshift Covid care hospital, the biggest in the state, had been functional since May last. After the closure of the Paror centre, the Kangra administration has no big Covid care centre to accommodate patients if Covid cases rise due to the third wave expected in February.

The administration had selected a piece of land belonging the state Health Department adjoining the Zonal Leprosy Hospital, Kandwari, near Palampur for a new makeshift Covid care hospital. It had planned to shift infrastructure from Paror to Kandwari. However, following opposition by villagers, the hospital at Kandwari looks difficult.

Navi Zila Parishad member from Kandwari and Sarit head of local NGO Avishkar said most villagers were not in favour a Covid hospital in their area. — OC