VIVEK SHARMA
JAMMU: The Centre on Friday approved AIIMS for Jammu as well for Srinagar. A communiqué in this regard was conveyed to J&K Government. AIIMS Jammu will be set up at Vijaypur while in Srinagar it has been approved for Awantipora.
Health Minister Bali Bhagat said, “Soon after receiving the approval letter from the Union Government, we have sent a request to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for conveying us the suitable date and time so that the foundation stone for AIIMS’ campus at Jammu and Srinagar can be laid same day.
Giving details, Bali said, “Rs 2,000 crore for each campus has been sanctioned and soon after the stone laying ceremony, the work will start.”
GMC Rajouri, Anatnag and Baramulla have been already approved in cabinet and processes to procure land for GMC Doda is under process, Bali added.
Both the AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir will have over 450 faculty members each besides the consultants and surgeons,
Meanwhile, the Center’s communiqué with regard to AIIMS for Jammu and Kashmir regions states that the approval has been given subject to fulfillment of conditions.
For Jammu AIIMS, the conditions include “State Government shall ensure removal of all encroachments permanent/temporary from proposed site and shall provide seamless connectivity between two patches of site separated by National Highway either by underpass (of suitable height ensuring fire safety norms) or over bridge.
Further the State Government shall ensure compliance of NHAI norms and make provision for NHAI norms like service road etc as applicable in that zone.
Provision of electricity and water supply to cater for full-fledged functional AIIMs. ( Roughly requirement will be 15MVA for electric supply and water supply 15 lakh litre per day).
“Moreover, the State government shall get all clearances from forest and to get possession of entire site and take necessary steps to protect site from flooding of Devak river during monsoon by providing for check dam, drainage arrangement etc.
In addition, the State government shall also obtain necessary clearances with respect to the forest land for its use for new AIIMS”, the communiqué mentions.
Meanwhile the conditions to be fulfilled by State Government for Kashmir region include provision of undertaking regarding required water, electricity and four lane approach road.
“The State Government shall assure the disposal of storm water and main trunk sewer line beyond the boundary of the plot of vacant land. Provision of electricity and water supply to cater for full-fledged functional AIIMS ( Roughly requirement will be 15MVA for electric supply and water supply 15 lakh litre per day)”, it states. Government of J and K has been asked to ensure clearance of the site from all angles as specified above and intimate to this Ministry for taking further necessary actions, the communiqué reads.
