Rs 1,129 Cr Sanctioned to Build New Facilities for 4,472 Village Health Clinics in AP
Rs 1,129 crore project, 80% funded by Centre, to finish in one year
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh government would take up construction of 4,472 buildings to accommodate village health clinics. The project involves a cost of Rs 1,129 crore, with 80 per cent funds coming from the central government.
The buildings would be completed in a year’s time, said health minister Satya Kumar Yadav at a review meeting he held on the village health clinics with the health officials here on Thursday.
The minister issued the approvals for taking up the building construction works.
At present, AP has 10,032 village health clinics catering to the needs of the people in all 26 districts. Of these, 1,086 village health clinics are being accommodated in the government buildings of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs while a major part of them are functioning from rented spaces.
The YSR Congress government had taken up construction of some buildings. However, due to delayed release of funds, the works were delayed. Now, construction of 2,309 of these buildings would be taken up, as also of 2,163 new buildings.
Though the previous government planned to construct 8,946 buildings, it could complete only 3,105 buildings, while it abruptly stopped construction of 2,309 buildings.
As the Centre has taken up the Ayushman Arogya Kendra projects, it has agreed to extend financial support for construction of such buildings in AP, Minister Yadav said.
He said nearly 80 per cent of the estimated cost of the works would be borne by the Centre.
The minister stated that under the National Health Mission and Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, some 60 per cent of the estimated cost would be borne by the Centre, while the 15th Finance Commission funds would be used as a grant for construction of the buildings.
Out of the total cost of Rs 2,254 crore, as high as Rs 1,808 crore would come from the Centre as aid.
Yadav said they were coming up with proposals for construction of 1,379 buildings in AP at a cost of Rs 755 crore with the 16th Finance Commission funds.