Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 4: Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda today gave nod to opening of three Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Jammu and Kashmir while putting on hold the opening of two others due to various factors. He has approved Rs 567 crores for opening of three Colleges at the cost Rs 189 crore per College.
In another significant decision, the Union Health Ministry has approved the site for opening of new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Vijaypur but raised queries over Kashmir AIIMS proposed at Awantipora.
The Union Health Ministry had approved five new Medical Colleges for the State including Baramulla and Anantnag in Kashmir and Rajouri, Doda and Kathua in Jammu. However, Nadda today gave nod for starting work on opening of three Medical Colleges of Baramulla, Anantnag and Rajouri while withholding decision on two other Colleges of Kathua and Doda due to delay in completion of formalities.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Nadda’s nod came after Union Health Secretary BP Sharma held detailed review of the opening of five new Medical Colleges in J&K with Commissioner/Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr Mandeep K Bhandari. While all formalities were complete in starting work for opening of three new Medical Colleges, they were found lacking for two others (Doda and Kathua).
“The Union Health Ministry gave formal sanction to Jammu and Kashmir Government for opening of three Medical Colleges and withheld the sanction for two others asking the State to complete rest of the formalities for them before the Union Health Secretary again considers them for approval,” sources said.
When approached, Health and Medical Education Minister Bali Bhagat confirmed that his Ministry has received formal sanction from Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda for initiating work on opening of three Medical Colleges in J&K. He admitted that the Centre has withheld formal sanction in respect of two other colleges of Doda and Kathua.
Expressing confidence that his Ministry will complete formalities for obtaining sanction for Doda and Kathua Medical Colleges also soon, Bhagat said Nadda has given consent to lay foundation stone of three new Medical Colleges in the State before May 20. A final date will be decided shortly, he added.
On queries raised by the Centre over land for opening of Kashmir AIIMS at Awantipora, Bali Bhagat said the queries pertained to limits of firing range of the Army.
“However, we have found that the land identified for the AIIMS at Awantipora was completely out of the firing range and we will revert back to the Union Health Ministry shortly after which the approval was expected,” he said and added that the Health Ministry had cleared land for Jammu AIIMS at Vijaypur, which had been shown to their team.
Meanwhile, sources told the Excelsior that Nadda’s Ministry has given nod for Rs 567 crores for opening of three Medical Colleges in J&K. Each Medical College will get Rs 189 crores. The amount for two remaining Medical Colleges will be released when the formal sanction is given by the Centre for them after completion of formalities by the State.
Sources said the Union Health Ministry raised serious objections to identification of land for opening Medical College Kathua in a village and, therefore, refused to give formal sanction for the College. The land had been identified few months back.
The Union Health Ministry wants the Medical College to be opened at the Main Road so that it was easily accessible to all the people. It has asked the State Health Department to identify new land for the College and complete other formalities for taking formal sanction.
In respect of Doda Medical College, though the land identified at Ghat was found alright, certain other administrative formalities held up the project. However, according to sources, these formalities were not major and would be completed by the State very shortly for obtaining sanction from the Centre.
Sources said all the three newly proposed Medical Colleges will have minimum of 160 kanals of land and will be within the radius of 10 kilometers from the existing District Hospital. On opening of the new Medical College, the District Hospital will maintain its separate identity but will be close to the College complex.
Sources said once the Union Health Ministry clears Kashmir AIIMS at Awantipora, which was expected very shortly after the reply to the queries by the State Health Ministry, Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be approached by the State Government for laying foundation stone of both Jammu and Kashmir AIIMS at Vijaypur and Awantipora respectively on the same day.
The Union Health Ministry would give Rs 2000 crores for each AIIMS.
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