Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, May 13: Union Health Minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda will lay the foundation stone of three Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) one in Jammu region and two in Kashmir valley on May 15.
Among the three medical colleges, out of five sanctioned by the Union Health Ministry for the State way back in 2013, one will be constructed at Rajouri in Jammu district, second in Anantnag district and third in Baramulla district of Kashmir valley.
In another significant development, the foundation stone of the two AIIMS one at Awantipora in Pulwama district of Kashmir valley and another at Vijaypur in Samba district of Jammu region will also be laid within one month as the State Health and Medical Education Department has replied to the queries raised by Union Health Ministry regarding the proposed land for Medical College at Awantipora pertaining to firing range.
Official sources told Excelsior that Nadda accompanied by Union Minister of State in PMO, Dr Jitendra Singh will reach Jammu early in the morning of May 15 where from they along with Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti and Health Minister, Bali Bhagat will fly to Rajouri in a special helicopter to lay the foundation stone of Medical College there at 11am.
After laying the foundation stone of the GMC at Rajouri they will leave for South Kashmir district of Anantnag in the afternoon and lay the foundation stone of GMC there. Later in the day they will fly to North Kashmir district of Baramulla and lay the foundation stone of third Medical College there too. The foundation stone of all three Medical Colleges in the State will be laid the same day.
Sources said the three medical colleges will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 567 crore of Rs 189 crore each.
Sources said the tendering process of the three Medical Colleges will be started within one month after laying the foundation stone.
Sources said that the foundation stone of the remaining two Medical Colleges one at Kathua and another at Doda district of Jammu region was also to be laid along with these three Medical Colleges but due to the failure of State Government to identify the suitable land for them this could not materialize.
However, Health and Medical Education Minister, Bali Bhagat said that the foundation stone of these two Medical Colleges will be laid in the second phase next month. Bhagat has given directives to the Revenue and Health and Medical Education Department authorities to start the identification of land on war footing for the two Medical Colleges.
Moreover, the Union Health Ministry has also cleared the site for AIIMS at Awantipora in Pulwama district of Kashmir valley after receiving a reply to its queries from Health and Medical Education Department of the State. However, it may be recalled that the site of AIIMS for Jammu to be established at Vijaypur in Samba district has already been cleared by Union Health Ministry. The foundation stone of both the AIIMS will be laid within one month, sources said.
Earlier, Union Health Ministry had raised some queries regarding the land of AIIMS at Awantipora on the firing range.
It may be recalled that 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 on May 5 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.
Sources said 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.
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.
The Union Health Ministry would give Rs 2000 crores for each AIIMS.
Meanwhile Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, has conveyed his gratitude to the Centre, especially the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Jai Prakash Nadda for paying special attention to the up-gradation of health facilities in the Jammu and Kashmir and sanctioning five Government Medical Colleges for the State.
The Minister has said that the present Government in the State vigorously pursued the issue with Centre Government for expediting the establishment of proposed Government Medical Colleges and the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare was pleased to convey its approval of three Colleges at Rajouri, Anantnag and Baramulla in the first instance.
He said the approval for remaining two Colleges viz; Kathua and Doda is likely to be conveyed by the Centre as soon as the formalities are being finalized.
With the setting up of five Medical Colleges in the State, there would not only be a notable improvement in the overall health services, but the State will become self-sufficient in creating the required manpower (doctors) for manning the health institutions in the State. He said the State Government will continue to make its best efforts to further augment the health sector across the State with the active support of the Central Government.
He said Central Government is so liberal in providing funds and other logistic support for improving the health infrastructure across the State.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel