After years of waiting, the BSL-3 Lab at GMC Jammu is almost ready for use

*Will work in next 40 days

Govind Sharma

JAMMU, Apr 14: Half a decade of waiting for completion of work on Bio Safety Level (BSL)-3 Lab at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu is finally coming to an end as this hi-tech lab is now almost ready . will be used and will soon be handed over to the GMC management and the construction company after the final stage of testing by its engineers.

Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
According to official sources, BSL-3 laboratories, one each in Kashmir and Jammu regions were announced by the J&K Government in 2015 after the outbreak of Swine Flu in the former State so that similar outbreaks can be dealt with effectively in future. Accordingly, sources said, funds of Rs 343.16 lakh were released for the Laboratory at GMC Jammu and a similar amount for the Laboratory to be set up at CD Hospital Srinagar.
They said that while both the laboratories were announced at the same time, the Laboratory at the Chest Diseases Hospital Srinagar was made operational in the year 2018 on an urgent basis but the work at the GMC Laboratory Jammu could not be taken up for four years and finally a year. 2019, the responsibility for the installation of the Laboratory was handed over to Biosafe India Limited.
“The company started work immediately after the assignment but first stopped work in the middle due to non-payment of dues and then due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and closure,” they said, adding, even after the COVID-19 pandemic. when it was over, the work in the laboratory remained in progress due to various reasons such as non-availability of a dedicated power supply line, DG Set and RO Water Plant, which were not included in the earlier DPR.
Therefore, sources said, the required DPRS along with cost estimates were submitted by the respective Engineering wings and the matter was taken up by the Administration Department for financial approval. After approval of funds and administrative approval for the Chief Engineer, Department of Mechanical Engineering Jammu, all these unfinished works were completed last year but due to non-payment of the 3rd installment of 27 lakhs, Biosafe India Limited Company hesitated to give the final. to touch
“However, about a few days back, a payment of Rs 27 lakh as 3rd installment was made to the Company and the company’s engineers are now giving final touches to the Laboratory,” sources revealed. They claimed that by the middle of next month, the laboratory will be handed over to the GMC management to start its work.
When contacted, the Principal and Dean, GMC Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta also confirmed that all the machinery and equipment of the BSL3 laboratory have been installed and the laboratory is in the final stage of testing and commissioning and will start functioning by May 2024. ″ .
It is worth mentioning here that the BSL-3 laboratory is designed to be easily contaminated and is usually used in clinical, teaching, research and diagnostic purposes. Such laboratories may work with microbes that are native or foreign, and may cause serious illness or danger by inhalation. These laboratories have complete control over their internal environment and the most advanced electronic systems installed in them ensure that the air and waste water from inside the laboratory is discharged outside after contamination.