Rayagada: A community health centre in the district's Jemadeipentha area is lying unused even three years since it was completed for alleged apathetic attitude of officials concerned.
Sources said the new building, constructed for Rs 1 crore, is yet to be electrified and get water supply network.
Located 15km from the district headquarters town along the Andhra Pradesh border, the rural works department completed the building in August 2015.
Left unused for so long, the building has started developing cracks with overgrown bushes all around.
"We appraised the district administration about the situation on several occasions, but to no avail. Thousands of villagers would benefit from the hospital, but the authorities have turned a blind eye to it," said local villager Chinnara Harikrishna.
Sources said the hospital would benefit residents of around 11 panchayats. But with the authorities yet to make it functional, the patients are being forced to depend on the dilapidated hospital building that constructed over five decades ago.
"We were hopeful that the new hospital, with additional health care facilities, would help the local villagers. But our hopes have been dashed. There is no ambulance facility at the old hospital and all three doctors posted there are on deputation. It doesn't have any permanent doctors or staff nurses," said Ch Satyanarayan, another villager.
"The administration should complete the remaining work at the earliest to make it usable," he added.
Official records suggest Rs 1 crore was sanctioned for the construction under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) in 2014 against an estimation of Rs 1.45 crore.
"Construction was completed with the available fund, but the electrification and water supply work of the building couldn't be done due to non-availability of funds," said Rajesh Patnaik, district project manager, National Health Mission.
"We have appraised our state office about the matter and urged them to release additional funds to ensure that the building is operational," he added.
Chief district medical officer Chadrika Das said: "We will take up the matter on a priority basis and make efforts to make it operational."
