The residents of Kulangam, Chogal and adjoining areas Wednesday staged a peaceful protest against the halt in work on the Government Medical College (GMC), demanding immediate resumption at the original site (Chogal) or a nearby alternative.
The protesters said that the report of the committee led by the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir was yet to be made public which raises serious questions about transparency.
“We fail to understand why the report is not being made public. The people deserve transparency,” said Abdul Jabbar War from Gund Chogal.
The protesters appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and LG Manoj Sinha to intervene into this matter as the same project was e-inaugurated by Home Minister himself seven years ago.
“We will not accept shifting of the GMC to Nutnussa. It will deprive our area of much-needed healthcare and development and most importantly we have sacrificed for this project by donating over five hundred kanals of land without any compensation,” Mohammad Amin a local from Kulangam said.
“When the government first approved Gund Chogal location for the construction of 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,” Abdul Rashid War, a local said.
“We have been waiting for years but instead of progress, the project has been stalled without any clear reason, leaving us in agony. If authorities have nothing to hide, they should release the report immediately and clear the confusion,” he added.
The protesters warned that if their demands are not addressed, they will intensify their agitation in the coming days. In light of the widespread discontent, the protesters urged the government to reconsider the relocation of GMC Handwara.
