High-level panel calls for expediting pace of work on twin AIIMS, 5 GMCs

S.SHEKHAR

JAMMU: Taking cognizance of delay in completion of construction work of five new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in the State, sanctioned by the then Union Government in the year 2014, the Governor’s administration today issued directions to the executing agencies for speeding up the work as funds to the tune of Rs. 505 Crore stand released for the purpose.

The five new GMCs are coming up in Kathua, Rajouri, Doda, Anantnag and Baramulla districts, which after missing several deadlines in the past, were supposed to be completed this year but it didn’t happen due to reasons best know to the government functionaries and the executing agencies.

According to official sources, chairing maiden meeting of a high level Committee formed on September 25 to remove the bottlenecks in operationalisation of hospitals, Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department, Atal Dulloo today reviewed the pace of progress on work of five new GMCs and twin All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the State.

Issuing directions to the concerned that classes for first batch of MBBS in new GMCs shall start well in time from June 2019, he asked to finalize makeshift arrangements and renovation of existing buildings identified to accommodate gallery type Lecture Halls, Dissection Hall, Library, Bio-Chemistry Lab, Physiology & Anatomy Lab etc.

Giving details of status of construction work, the executing agencies, responsible to carry out construction of the new GMCs at Doda, Anantnag and Baramulla districts, informed that all the colleges will be ready by December this year. Meanwhile, the executing agencies, involved in construction of new GMCs in Kathua and Rajouri districts, assured that the work will be completed within the stipulated time.

Meanwhile, Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL), Inderjeet, informed that he has already initiated the process of procuring of machinery and equipment as per the requisitions from Principals of GMC Jammu and Srinagar required during first year of classes in new upcoming GMCs.

While laying focus on the hiring of manpower, Dulloo directed the Principals of twin GMCs to immediately engage the manpower both Gazetted and Non-Gazetted under SRO 384 rules.

He asked Chairman, Jammu & Kashmir State Services Recruitment Board (JKSSRB) and representative of Public Service Commission (PSC) to expedite the recruitment process so that permanent manpower is put in place within time.

Regarding the status of work on twin AIIMS, the officers concerned informed that land measuring 1954 kanals 6 marlas i.e., 244.25 acres, at Vijaypur in Samba district and 1886 kanals 5 marals i.e., 235.75 acres, at Awantipora in Pulwama district has already been transferred and handed over to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Government of India to execute the required works.

It was further informed that the balance amount of Rs. 62 Crore compensation as demanded by Deputy Commissioner, Pulwama, will be released shortly by the Finance Department, J&K. The officers also apprised that the arrangement of water supply and work on approach roads on both the AIIMS is going on smoothly.

Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma, who joined the meeting through video conferencing mode, informed that all the nomadic families, who were putting up at AIIMS site in Jammu, have been shifted to newly identified places according to new rehabilitation plan formulated for the purpose.

Besides, the CPWD officials informed that the work on boundary walls at the sites of both the AIIMS is also going on smoothly.

Also, while reviewing upgradation process of existing District Hospitals in the State, the Principal Secretary directed the executing agencies to take up construction works immediately on existing terms and conditions to avoid any further delay.