Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Oct 23: The process of setting up of five new Medical Colleges sanctioned in the Jammu and Kashmir by the then Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad for Kathua, Doda, Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla has been reduced to snail’s pace by the new BJP-PDP dispensation.
Though, the previous NC-Congress Government had claimed to start the new session of these Medical Colleges from 2015-16, yet it is believed that the commencement of the new session is not possible even during 2017-2018 for the reason that the land acquisition process for the Medical College at Kathua and even at Doda is said to be incomplete.
The work on the Medical College at Rajouri is yet to be allotted though the foundation stones for Rajouri, Baramulla and Anantnag Medical Colleges were laid during April this year by the Union Health Minister J P Nadda in presence of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and State Health Minister, Bali Bhagat.
Highly placed sources in the State Health and Medical Education Department told the Excelsior that Union Health Ministry has already cleared the proposals for Anantnag, Rajouri and Baramulla Medical Colleges after the concerned Deputy Commissioners submitted the papers about clearing land status and transferring land to the Medical Education Department. The land acquisition process has been delayed in Doda and Rajouri due to some internal pulls and pressures. Unfortunately, after the new regime took over, the process of land acquisition and construction of these Medical Colleges has been deliberately delayed due to vested political interests.
The sources further revealed that the then Union Health Minister had also sanctioned the amount of Rs 189 crore for each college, the people at the helm of affairs deprived the aspiring youth of the State from the benefit of additional 500 seats of MBBS in these Medical Colleges. Ultimately, the general public has suffered due to the unavoidable delay of more than two and half years.
Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri Shabir Ahmed Bhat said that land acquisition and land transfer process for Medical College Rajouri has been completed. He said about 200 kanal land has been identified and selected for the Medical College near Khandli Bridge and it is located about 5 kms from District hospital, Rajouri. He said the process of tendering work will be initiated shortly by the concerned department and would be started thereafter.
Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Ramesh Kumar when contacted said that two-three sites were identified near Kathua town and the proposal was sent to the concerned department. But the final clearance from the Government is yet awaited. The MLA Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia said that earlier the land about 14 kms away from Kathua town in Rajbagh area was identified which was rejected by the Government. He said now a good piece of Government land has been selected near Lagate Morh, which is hardly two and half kilometers from Kathua town. He said that land acquisition and land transfer process would also take place and it may take several months more.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Bhupinder Kumar told the Excelsior that though it took some time for the identification and selection of land for the Medical College yet, the site has been identified near Gath village about 4 kms away from district hospital. He said as per guidelines, the GMC building should be within 5 kms from the District hospital and it fulfills the criteria.
Responding to another question, the DC said that after acquiring land from the private parties, a compensation of Rs 3.50 crore has also been paid. The payments worth over Rs 97 lakh is still pending and it would also be disbursed shortly. Entire land is private and Revenue authorities have handed over it to the concerned Health and Medical Education Department. Now, it is up to the concerned department to go for tender work and initiate construction process, the DC added.
Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat when contacted admitted that there had been delay in the process of selection of land and its acquisition. But he expedited the process after taking over the Ministry. He further said that land for Kathua and Doda Medical Colleges was delayed for long. Now for Kathua, a most suitable land measuring nearly 200 kanals has been identified near Lagate Morh on Highway and within one week or two the status will be cleared. It is Govt land and the process of land transfer to the concerned department is likely to be completed shortly.
Bhagat said the present site is more closer to the District Hospital Kathua and also fulfills the guidelines as per MCI norms. The land should be minimum 160 kanals. Earlier, the land selected was away from the town even more than 10 kms and the site was rejected. The Minister assured that the allotment of work to the agency, most probably to the JKPCC would be handed over shortly. Each college will be constructed with the cost of Rs 189 crore and funding will not be the problem, the Minister maintained.
Bhagat further revealed that the Nodal Officers for all the colleges have already been appointed by the Government. With the setting up of these five Medical Colleges, additional 500 seats of MBBS would increase. And gradually, the problems of doctors, particularly in rural and far flung areas will also be overcome. Earlier, mainly two Government Medical Colleges at Srinagar and Jammu were feeding to the State hospitals besides Batra College at Sidhra, he added.
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