Calling the ongoing construction at Imkongliba Memorial District Hospital (IMDH) Block A “substandard and unsafe,” the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) on Wednesday issued a stern warning that it will not allow patients to be accommodated in the building if serious structural flaws are not addressed. The student body has demanded the immediate formation of an independent evaluation team to inspect the site and urged the Nagaland Government to terminate the contractor if the project fails to meet required standards.
The AKM emphasized that IMDH is a critical healthcare center not only for Mokokchung but for neighboring districts as well, and thus must adhere to the highest safety and construction standards. “If a tragedy occurs due to poor construction, who will take responsibility?” AKM questioned.
The demand follows an on-site inspection by AKM officials and local media, where significant concerns over material quality, structural integrity, and delay in construction were noted. According to AKM President Lanutoshi Aier, the team witnessed cracked concrete running from the ground to the top floor and sections of cement that crumbled at the touch—conditions they called “alarming” for a medical facility.
Adding to the concern, the student body highlighted that much of the foundation was already laid using what they claim is a substandard cement brand, “SBM,” previously flagged by Ao Senden during its own inspection in May 2024. Ao Senden had called for the immediate replacement of the inferior cement, but AKM alleged that no corrective action has been taken so far.
The hospital upgradation project, first tendered in 2018 under the National Health Mission for ₹13.70 crore, aims to convert IMDH into a 200-bed facility with two new blocks. KC Infra Projects Pvt. Ltd. Began construction in 2022 and initially promised completion by March 2024. The deadline was later pushed to September 2024, a target which AKM says has also been missed.
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In a letter sent to the Director of KC Infra on September 14, 2023, AKM had already raised concerns over the slow pace of work and poor workmanship. However, it claimed that the company has not responded to their grievances.
Minister of Health & Family Welfare, P. Paiwang Konyak, during his visit to the hospital on November 20, 2024, had announced an additional ₹3 crore for the completion of Block A. According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR), both blocks were to be completed within 36 months, a deadline that now seems unlikely to be met.
With construction of Block B tied to the demolition of the old hospital building—which can only begin after Block A is completed—the AKM fears further delays in the overall upgradation project.
The student body has urged that the proposed Evaluation Team include stakeholders from various fields and stressed that if discrepancies are confirmed, all affected sections must be repaired before the building can be used. AKM urged the government to act immediately in order to prevent a potential healthcare crisis. AKM further warned that failure by KC Infra Projects to deliver should result in termination of the contract and re-tendering to a more competent firm.
