BANGALORE: “Every election for the last ten years, the politicians have been promising that they will build a hospital here,” said Gangamma, a 53-year-old shopkeeper, referring to the abandoned Pottery Road maternity hospital. But till now nothing has been done and thecase in point is the derelict building, that would qualify as an apology for a hospital. "The walls of the old building are falling-off, while tramps and drunkards have made it their home," said a visibly angry Gangamma.
The Pottery Road Hospital was among the many hospitals built by the early founding fathers of Bangalore. It was with the blessings of the then Chief Minister Nijalingappa and Health Minister K Nagappa Alva that it was inaugurated in 1963.
A Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) official said that since the hospital is situated in a low-lying area and is close to an open drain, the compound used to get flooded during the monsoon.
Thus, the authorities decided to close it down in 1999, while the maternity home was shifted to Perrier Nagar.
However, BBMP East Zone Joint Commissioner, S Puttaswamy said that the corporation in a meeting involving high-profile members has decided to demolish the abandoned maternity home and build a 100-bed hospital in its place.
On the other hand, a local resident on grounds of anonymity alleged that the reason why the authorities have not taken any step despite repeated requests could be because of vested interests.
The one-and-a-half acre land being situated on the main road could also be used as a commercial property, which means a hefty cut for the authorities as well, the source said.
However, the BBMP East Zone Joint Commissioner denied the allegation and asserted that the decision to build the 100-bed hospital was still in a tentative state.
Local residents here remain sceptical of the move ever coming to its fulfillment. At present, the hospital compound is being used as a grazing ground for cattle, while some twenty families have made the backyard of the compound their home.