Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 19: High Court today directed the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Srinagar to inform the court with reference to utilization of funds sanctioned by Government of India for establishment of State Cancer Institute (SCI).
Counsel for the petitioner advocate Syed Musaid informed the Division Bench that the project has not moved a step forward and the authorities have failed to utilize the first installment released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, during the financial year 2014-15.
He further submitted that the respondent Institute has not utilized the already sanctioned 1st installment of funds released by the Government of India and, as such, the Central Government has not released the next installment of funds due to non-utilization of the earlier funds.
“Let the Director, SKIMS, on or before the next date of hearing, file latest status with reference to utilization of funds already sanctioned and released by the Government of India”, Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Sanjeev Kumar said and directed Director SKIMS to furnish the details of the progress made in the establishment of the State Cancer Institute.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, under Tertiary Cancer Centre Scheme of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDS), has approved setting up of the State Cancer Institute at the SKIMS institute with an estimated cost of Rs. 120.00 crore on Centre/ State share basis (90:10).
In this regard the funds to the tune of Rs.47.25 crores, as 1st installment, stand already sanctioned and released Central for its utilization to purchase various equipments and for undertaking civil works (upto a maximum of 30% of the sanctioned amount) for the proposed SCI.
Petitioner who herself is a cancer patient and has undergone five cancer removal surgeries on various occasions believes the State has failed to provide any proper infrastructure or assistance as was due to a citizen in a welfare state as such moved the High Court with a present petition.
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