Neglected hospital quarters could see a makeover

Forest department moots plan to take over the old buildings at Pachamalai

The old quarters at Top Sengattupatti village in Pachamalai.

A row of buildings which once housed the quarters for the hospital staff at Pachamalai, about 90 km from here, now remains in a neglected state. Thick growth of vegetation and thorny bushes on the site have rendered the structure weak, say official sources.

The hospital quarters were meant for doctors and para-medical personnel so that they could provide round-the-clock healthcare to the tribal population of Top Sengattupatti and surrounding villages. They were built when there was no adequate bus facility between Pachamalai and Thuraiyur or Uppliyapuram, the nearest towns down the hills.

With the implementation of the eco-tourism project by the Forest Department, there has been a growing demand for additional infrastructure to cater to the demand of tourists. “The Forest Department is considering a move to take over the old buildings and convert them into more useful infrastructure under the Tamil Nadu Bio Diversity and Greening Programme", an official told

The Hindu .

If the Health Department allots the building to the Forest Department, it would be renovated and a proposal in this regard would be sent to the Health Department shortly, the official added.