J&K sets up high powered Panel to clear formalities on AIIMS

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 9: After getting final approval from the Centre and nod of Rs 4900 crores for setting up of two new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the State Government has set up a high level Committee headed by Chief Secretary B R Sharma to complete preliminary formalities sought by the Union Ministry of Health and Medical Education.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the Committee headed by the Chief Secretary will have Administrative Secretaries of Health and Medical Education, General Administration Department, Public Health Engineering, Revenue, Public Works Departments and Power Development Department among others as members of the high powered Committee.
“The Committee has been mandated to clear the issues related to land, water and power supplies, roads etc raised by the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare while clearing the proposal for setting up of two new AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir—one at Vijaypur in Samba district of Jammu region and another at Awantipora in Pulwama district of the Valley,” sources said.
They added that the Government has asked the Committee to complete the formalities at the earliest so that they could be submitted to the Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare for initiating work on the two AIIMS in the State.
Noting that the Union Health and Medical Education Ministry has kept clearance of land, construction of approach roads to the sites of AIIMS and water and power supply lines to the buildings as pre-requisite, sources said once these formalities are completed, the work would formally start on construction of the AIIMS and funds from the Centre would start pouring in.
Before clearing the proposal for setting up of two new AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir and approval of the funds, the Union Health Ministry had laid conditions to be fulfilled by the State Government which included removal of all encroachments permanent/ temporary from the proposed site of the AIIMS at Vijaypur in Samba district.
“The State Government shall provide seamless connectivity between two patches of the site separated by National Highway either by underpass (of suitable height ensuring fire safety norms) or over bridge,” the Union Ministry said.
It added that the State Government should ensure compliance of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) norms and make provisions for NHAI norms like service roads etc as applicable in that zone.
It called upon the State Government to keep provision of electricity and water supply to cater for full-fledged functional AIIMS (rough requirement will be 15 MVA for electric supply and 15 lakh liters per day water supply).
“The State Government shall get all clearances from Forest Department and get possession of entire site,” the Ministry said, adding the State Government shall take necessary steps to protect site from flooding of Devak river during Monsoon by providing for check dams, drainage arrangements etc.
In addition to the above, the Union Health Ministry said, the State Government shall also obtain necessary clearances with respect to the Forest land for its use for new AIIMS.
As far as conditions to be fulfilled for new AIIMS for Kashmir region were concerned, the Union Ministry said the State Government shall provide undertaking regarding required water, electricity and four-lane approach road up to the proposed site at Awantipora.
“The State Government shall assure the disposal of storm water and maintrunk sewer line beyond the boundary of plot. It shall also ensure that the firing range of the Army as located adjacent to the proposed site at Awantipora is closed permanently or relocated by providing another piece of vacant land,” the Union Health Ministry said.
It also reiterated similar requirement of water and electricity supply as proposed for the AIIMS in Jammu.
It has asked the Jammu and Kashmir Government to ensure clearance of the site from all angles as specified. It has sought an intimation from the State Government about the clearances.
Sources said it was in this context that the State Government has set up high powered Committee headed by the Chief Secretary and comprising Administrative Secretaries of concerned Departments to clear all formalities sought by the Union Health Ministry to launch work on two prestigious AIIMS.

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