Bareilly's Critical Health Infrastructure Projects Relocated to Lucknow Following Land Acquisition Failure
In a significant development affecting healthcare infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh, a critical care hospital block and an Integrated Public Health Laboratory (IPHL) originally sanctioned for Bareilly under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) have been officially shifted to Lucknow. This relocation comes after the Bareilly district administration failed to acquire the necessary land for these vital medical facilities.
Official Confirmation and Political Inquiry
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav confirmed the relocation in response to a parliamentary query. The inquiry was initiated by Neeraj Maurya, Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament from the Aonla Lok Sabha constituency, who sought detailed information from the Union Health Ministry regarding the status of proposed health infrastructure projects in Bareilly and surrounding districts.
Jadhav explained that while critical care blocks and IPHLs are being established across Uttar Pradesh under the ambitious PM-ABHIM scheme, the Bareilly facilities specifically faced relocation due to the non-availability of suitable land. The minister's response highlights a critical administrative failure that has resulted in Bareilly losing these important healthcare resources.
Political Reactions and Demands for Accountability
The relocation has sparked strong reactions from opposition leaders. Samajwadi Party leader Mayank Shukla expressed frustration over the development, stating, "Due to the failure to provide five acres of land for the critical care unit approved by the Central government for Bareilly, it was shifted to Lucknow after five years. Responsibility must be fixed and action taken against the officials concerned."
Shukla's statement emphasizes the prolonged nature of this issue, with the project apparently languishing for half a decade before the relocation decision was made. His call for accountability underscores the political implications of what many view as an administrative failure affecting public health infrastructure.
Ongoing Efforts and Administrative Silence
Neeraj Maurya, the MP who raised the initial query, has indicated he will pursue the matter further with state authorities. Meanwhile, attempts to contact Bareilly District Magistrate Avinash Singh for comment on the land acquisition failure and subsequent project relocation were unsuccessful, as he was unavailable for response.
The situation reveals several important aspects of healthcare infrastructure development in India:
- Land acquisition challenges continue to hinder critical development projects
- Inter-governmental coordination between central schemes and local administration remains problematic
- Healthcare resource distribution is affected by administrative capabilities at the district level
- Political oversight plays a crucial role in tracking implementation of development projects
This development represents a significant setback for healthcare infrastructure in Bareilly, while simultaneously benefiting Lucknow with additional medical facilities. The incident serves as a case study in the challenges of implementing national health infrastructure schemes at the local level, particularly when land acquisition becomes a stumbling block.
