Construction of Lady Goschen new block delayed.

The construction of the much-awaited new block of Government Lady Goschen Hospital has been delayed. The building, which was proposed to be ready by the end of this year, is likely to be ready only by June 2015.

During the review of the progress of construction recently, Hospital’s Medical Superintendent Shankunatala M. told Mangalore MLA J.R. Lobo that recent changes in the norms for funding of projects taken up under corporate social responsibility (CSR) had affected the flow of funds from Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL).

The company has released Rs. 6.5 crore for the Rs. 21.7 crore six-storeyed block of the Lady Goschen Hospital. 'We are expecting clearance of pending bills of Rs. 2.5 crore in the next few weeks. The new Managing Director of MRPL has assured the company’s continued support for the project,' she said. District in-charge Minister B. Ramanath Rai would chair a separate meeting recently on the issue, she said.

Dr. Shankuntala said so far the contractors had finished 80 per cent of the work on the building. 'There has been a drop in the pace of construction,' she told Mr. Lobo.

THE HINDU