A district committee has identified persistent water shortages and frequent failures of the central air-conditioning system at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital (MGMMCH) in Jamshedpur, according to a report submitted to the East Singhbhum deputy commissioner.
Committee Findings
The five-member panel, led by Dhalbhum sub-divisional officer Arnav Mishra, inspected the state-run facility last week. It found that air-conditioning units in critical areas such as the emergency ward, intensive care unit (ICU), and Burn Unit frequently break down. Severe water shortages were noted, disrupting routine operations in orthopaedic and surgical wards. A dozen toilets were locked, while others had broken taps and basins. Display systems and the public address system were non-functional. Sanitation levels were poor, and the campus lacked colour-coded bins for waste segregation.
Patient Suffering
On Wednesday, patients endured heat for five hours after the central AC stopped due to inadequate water supply. The panel also highlighted that patient diet charts did not bear the signatures of dieticians. Concerns were raised over the outsourcing of essential services such as water, electricity, and ambulance operations to private agencies.
Infrastructure Delays
The construction of key infrastructure, including an oxygen plant and a prisoners’ ward, was found to be progressing slowly. Similarly, the laying of a 3.5-kilometre pipeline from Sankosai to the hospital remained behind schedule. The Rs 8.69 crore project, once completed, is expected to supply 3 million litres per day (MLD) of water from the Subernarekha river to the hospital.
Official Response
District Collector Rajiv Ranjan, citing disruptions in surgeries due to water shortage, had on May 25 directed an increase in water tanker supply to 15 per day and instructed the contractor to complete the pipeline by June 15. Civil surgeon Dr Sahir Pall, a panel member, stated that the inspection report has been submitted to the deputy commissioner for further analysis.
About the Author
B Sridhar, based in Jamshedpur, covers the entire Kolhan region, including East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Seraikela-Kharsawan districts, reporting on topics such as left-wing extremism, city life, urban policies, and other wide-ranging issues.
