‘GMC Kathua to start MD this year, upgrade cancer facility’
Avtar Bhat
KATHUA, Apr 11 : The work on Ujh Multipurose Project conceived about 100 years back during the time of Maharja will start soon. This was announced by Union Minister in PMO with Independent Charge of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Ministries, Dr Jitendra Singh while talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function held at GMC Kathua today.
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Dr Jitendra Singh said during last 13 years every time the Government tried to pursue this project as it did in case of Railway Link to Kashmir. However due to some hiccups like price escalation and other issues its construction could not be taken up in hand.
Describing the approval as a historic milestone he noted that the project remained stalled for decades due to administrative and financial constraints.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that sustained efforts over the past 13 years helped resolve issues arising from cost escalation. He further informed that the Ministry of Home Affairs extended crucial support in view of national security considerations, as the Ujh river has been identified as a vulnerable point for infiltration. Dr Jitendra Singh said the project is expected to significantly enhance irrigation capacity and contribute to overall regional development.
He said this river had become a route of infiltration from across the border and the issue was taken up with Jal Shakti Department and Union Home Ministry by him who framed a Joint Committee to finalise the Project. The Union Minister said now the Project has been finalized with the intervention of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and work on it will start immediately.
Dr Jitendra Singh said the surplus water of the Project will flow through canal to states of Haryana and Rajasthan.
Highlighting progress on the ShahpurKandi Barrage, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the national project is nearing completion, and it is expected to be commissioned within a month.
He said the Shahpur Kandi National Project on which work was started during the regime of Indira Gandhi in eighties had been shelved by previous Congress and NC Governments, was revived soon after Narendra Modi took over in 2014 and it will also be commissioned soon.
The Minister also announced that the Kathua Medical College which was started in 2019 will start MD courses in various streams from this year. He said the first batch of MBBS from this college has passed out and the second batch is in final year.
He said the Day Care Cancer Centre at GMC Kathua established under the aegis of Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai will be upgraded.
He said the initiative will include the installation of state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment to provide advanced radiation treatment to cancer patients locally. He said this would reduce the need for patients to travel to distant metropolitan centres.
He said to give value addition to the MD courses started in the College, two MOUs were signed today. One was with Tata Memorial Cancer Centre Mumbai under which therapy to cancer patients will be provided here so that they have not to go to Mumbai and other far of areas for this treatment. Besides, in Oncology surgery, short term courses will be started here so that for such surgeries the patients don’t have to go to Mumbai, he added.
Dr Jitendra Singh said another MoU has been signed with IIIM (CSIR) Jammu under which medical research on cannabis will be held for its use in treatment of patients with Private public partnership (PPP) mode with a French company.
Later, chairing the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) meeting at DC Office here, the Minister made a series of key announcements aimed at accelerating development in Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Jitendra Singh informed that the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway is progressing at a rapid pace, and it will soon be opened up to Vijaypur in Samba district. He added that construction work on the remaining stretch up to Katra is underway, and it is expected to be completed in the coming months. The Expressway will significantly reduce travel time, improve connectivity, and promote economic activity and tourism in the region, he added.
In a major boost to sports infrastructure, the Union Minister announced that the Chief Minister’s Office has approved the transfer of additional land for the construction of the Arun Jaitley International Stadium at Hiranagar. He said the project will facilitate the development of modern sports facilities and create new opportunities for youth in the region.
Referring to the West Asia situation causing energy crisis across the world, Dr. Jitendra Singh announced that the work for laying a pipeline to supply Piped Natural Gas (PNG) up to Kathua will be completed within the next six months. The Project will be undertaken by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and is expected to provide a reliable and environment-friendly energy source to households.
During the DISHA meeting, the Minister also took note of the poor condition of the strategic Dhar Road. He instructed the concerned authorities to take immediate corrective action and ensure that potholes on the road are filled without delay.
Expressing concern over illegal mining, the Minister said it is posing a serious threat to public infrastructure, including the foundation of prestigious bridges and other critical assets. He directed law enforcement agencies to take strict action against such activities and ensure effective enforcement to curb the menace and protect vital infrastructure.
On PM SVANidhi, the Minister urged MLAs to create awareness about the scheme in their respective constituencies. Describing the scheme as a strong livelihood support initiative for street vendors, he said it helps them access easy credit facilities to sustain and expand their small businesses. Dr Jitendra Singh also stressed the need to promote PM Surya Ghar scheme among the public.
MLA Jasrota, Rajiv Jasrotia; MLA Kathua, Dr Bharat Bhushan; MLA Hiranagar, Vijay Kumar; MLA Basohli, Darshan Singh; MLA Billawar, Satish Sharma, PRI representatives, and the entire District administration led by Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Rajesh Sharma, SSP, Mohita Sharma and officers of the line departments attended the meeting.
Earlier, the Minister while speaking after presiding over a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony at GMC, Kathua between the two institutions, marking a significant step towards strengthening healthcare infrastructure and research capabilities in the region highlighted the Government’s commitment to improving access to advanced healthcare services in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. He stated that capacity building will be a key component of the partnership, with surgeons and medical professionals from GMC, Kathua receiving specialized training in cancer surgery and oncology care from experts at Tata Memorial Centre. Dr. Jitendra Singh emphasized that the initiative will not only improve patient care but also contribute to early diagnosis and timely treatment of cancer cases in the region.
In another important development, an MoU was signed between GMC, Kathua and CSIR Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM).
He said the partnership will also foster academic cooperation between the two institutions, including joint MD thesis.
MLA Kathua, Dr Bharat Bhushan; MLA Jasrota. Rajiv Jasrotia; Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Rajesh Sharma; SSP, Kathua Mohita Sharma, Principal, GMC Kathua, Dr Suinder Attri, Dr Ashish Gulia, Director, HomiBhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre, Mohali and Dr Zabeer Ahmed, Director, CSIR-IIIM, Jammu were present during the MoU signing ceremony.
Dr. Jitendra Singh further informed that the MoU between GMC and CSIR-IIIM will facilitate joint academic programmes, including postgraduate research, and will support MD thesis work in pharmacology and medicine. This will provide medical students and researchers with greater exposure to interdisciplinary research and access to advanced scientific resources.
On the occasion, Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated a library at GMC, Kathua.
The Minister also laid the foundation stone for the 150 KLD Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) in the college campus on a turnkey basis. The project aims to strengthen environmental management and ensure proper treatment of waste generated within the institution.
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