During a mohalla sabha held by an AAP MLA in Sangam Vihar this week, residents proposed to give away a plot of land to set up a dispensary in the area. According to residents of the area, the plot measuring 100 square yards was procured by the residents’ association around a decade ago. “Around 10-12 years ago, we had taken donations from residents and purchased the plot. There was acute shortage of electricity in those days. But as the situation improved over the next few years, we decided to put the land to public use. In a recent mohalla sabha held by the MLA, we proposed that land be used for a dispensary,” Vijay Rathore, a member of the residents’ association in I-2 block, Sangam Vihar, said. Roshan Pawar, a resident of Sangam Vihar, said, “There is no dispensary in this locality. There is one health centre in D block of Sangam Vihar which is far from here. We rely either on these private clinics or go to the government hospital in Malviya Nagar.” The mohalla sabha was held by MLA Dinesh Mohania to seek suggestions on how the MLA Development Fund of Rs 4 crores should be spent. “The idea came from the people. The plot is worth Rs 70-80 lakh. To get such a plot in this area, where most people belong to the economically weaker sections, is extremely difficult,” Mohania said. Mohania said the people had proposed a three-storey building, which would also have a computer learning centre. “Two floors can function as a dispensary, while the third can be used either to support a women’s self-help group or set up a computer learning centre. Computers can be bought using the MLA development funds,” Mohania said. Mohania, however, said setting up a dispensary would take time. “The land is owned by the residents’ association and we need no objection certificates from them. We will get the necessary documents in the next few days and then approach either the Health department or the Social Welfare department. The MLA development fund cannot be used directly to set up the dispensary. We will approach the Health department and offer to give them a section of the MLA fund for the purpose. Tenders for the project will be issued. It is going to take around 4-6 months,” he said.
