Soon, Howrah's JS Hospital to get facelift; better services to be ensured

The decade-long wait of the residents of a major part of urban Howrah is soon going to be over with the state government making a comprehensive plan to upgrade the T L Jaiswal Hospital.

The works to give a complete new look to the hospital has already started and steps are being taken to cater "proper" health services to common people.

Interestingly, the vacant land in the hospital will be turned to a "Health Park" where both patients and aged people of the locality can take a stroll. Doctors said, fresh air, walking, little exercise etc are always good for patients recuperating from illnesses. A cafeteria will also be set up for the patients' family members.

The 350-bed hospital had been lying in shambles for the past few decades. The services in the once well-known state-run hospital of the region had started deteriorating due to the lackadaisical attitude of the erstwhile Left Front government. Gradually, tall grasses grew on the vacant land in the hospital premises and waterlogging even after a light drizzle jeopardised the operations of the hospital.

After the change of guard in the state in 2011, steps were taken to keep the hospital premises clean and to avoid waterlogging. But engineers suggested that a huge investment of at least Rs 10 crore is needed to bring back the hospital to its own form.

Now, steps have been taken to not only give a facelift to the hospital but also to reinstate its old glory of providing proper health services to people.

The ground floor of the hospital goes under knee-deep water during the monsoons as its level is lower than the adjacent GT Road. Thus, the first task that is being taken up is to bring both the GT Road and the hospital premises at the same level. Soil will be dumped to bring the ground of the hospital premises to level adjacent to the GT Road. At the same time, there will be a new drainage system and the two large ponds in the premises of the hospital will also be cleaned.

The waterbodies will also be beautified. The adjacent factories will not be allowed to dump garbage in the ponds and the damaged boundary walls will be repaired.

Another major step that has been taken up is widening of the main gate of the hospital. It would be done to ensure easy movement of two ambulances at the same time through the gate.

The Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) has allotted a fund to initiate the renovation work. A major portion of the work will also be carried out through MP and MLA LAD funds.

Vaishali Dalmiya, the local MLA, said the work has started and steps have been taken to complete the task at least to check waterlogging before this monsoon along with the beautification project.