In two years, not a brick has been laid on the foundation stone of the local medical college and hospital.
Before the assembly elections of 2012, it was a key project of the state government and the dream of all Mansa. Dera Bhai Gurdas donated almost 28 acres from its land for the construction of Gyan Sagar Medical College and Multi-specialty Hospital in the private sector and on April 9, 2011, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal laid its foundation stone.

When the model code of conduct for the assembly polls was in force, the head of Dera Bhai Gurdas in Mansa charged the state government with acquiring the land by force. It had also given way 54 acres to Punjab Technical University (PTU) for the construction of the Punjab Institute of Technology, and that project is also stalled.

Technical problems such as the trouble in getting the change of land use (CLU) certificate were hurdles before construction, said the district authorities. “The region is backward in facilities for technical and medical education,” said Kuldip Singh, a man who lives in Mansa. “The district’s government schools and colleges are short of teachers.”

All the foundation stones laid before the elections were left unattended after the voting was over. “The construction is not started, as the problem of the change of land use certificate sustains,” said deputy commissioner Amit Dhaka. “The government is not responsible for any of the technical hurdles.”