Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 11: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today announced in the Legislative Assembly that the Government would conduct a detailed inquiry into the selection of flood prone site for construction of Government Medical College (GMC), Handwara, which caused significant losses to Government exchequer.
The announcement was made by the Minister while replying to supplementary questions asked by legislators Sajad Gani Lone and others regarding establishment of GMC Handwara, during the Question Hour.
Sajad Lone said that the then administration selected the site and did not consult the local representatives in this regard, calling for immediate inquiry on the matter.
The Minister assured the House and legislators that their concerns would be addressed promptly. She also assured that the local representatives would be consulted for selection of new site for establishment of this prestigious public health institution.
Earlier, a heated exchange of words was witnessed between Sajad Gani Lone and NC members over the establishment of GMC Handwara. NC MLAs Mir Saifullah, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone, and Javed Mirchal demanded that GMC Handwara be set up somewhere between Handwara and Kupwara.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
Sajad Lone also stood up, pointing out that his primary concern was to ensure that the allocated funds did not lapse. “Allocation of Rs 500 crores will lapse after 20 days if no decision is taken over the new site for construction of the GMC,” he said.
As the Minister said that she had taken up the matter of extending funding with the Centre. Lone asked the former to tell whether there had been any response to the letter in this regard.
Lone further said that he has got abuses from his political adversaries for getting the Medical College sanctioned. As NC MLAs attempted to counter Lone, he accused them of snatching the Engineering College from Kupwara district. He also accused the NC of playing politics over the issue.
It led to a verbal duel between him and Sakeena Itoo who retorted: “Omar Abdullah Sahab has brought thousands of such medical colleges. It is not a question of who brought the college. I am concerned about the safety of students and faculty if the GMC building is constructed in flood prone area.”
Admitting wasteful expenditure of Rs 40 crores so far on the GMC building since 2022, the Minister said that she was ready to allow construction of the medical College at the same site if any member of the House takes responsibility for the safety of the students and faculty.
“There should be no politics. Medical College is not of any party or individual but everyone. I will order an inquiry into how it was set up in a flood-prone area,” she said and appealed the Agriculture Minister to help in identifying the new site for construction of GMC Handwara.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
