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Committee for identification of land for medical college in Karimganj yet to submit its report: Health Minister
Dec. 24: The issue of construction of a medical college in Karimganj district has become a major issue of contention. On 29 November, Patharkandi MLA Krishnendu Paul of the BJP during a press meet held in Karimganj declared that Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has made the announcement of establishing an Agricultural University at Patharkandi and a Medical College at Ratabari over telephone to him. However, no formal announcement in this regard was made by the state government in the Assembly and neither no such resolutions to this effect was adopted by the state cabinet.
Following this, during the ongoing winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, MLA of North Karimganj, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha took up this issue on a strong note. On the 1st day of the winter session, MLA Dey Purkaystha sat for dharna with placards stating “We want immediate official declaration of Medical College in Karimganj as per NMC Guidelines.”
It is in this connection that MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha raised certain questions in this connection. He asked whether the Principal Health Secretary on 6 August 2021, wrote a letter to DC Karimganj asking to decide land for Medical College at Karimganj within 10 km radius of the district hospital. He demanded a clear reply from the concerned minister, whether DC Karimganj has replied to this or how much time will it take? The MLA also wanted to know from the minister the present status of this issue.
Replying to the queries on 24 December, 2021, Keshab Mahanta, Minister of Health & Family Welfare stated that the Principal Health Secretary has indeed written to the DC Karimganj on 6 August, 2021 to identify land for the establishment of a medical college in Karimganj. The minister added that the process of identification of land for this purpose is still going on.
Minister Keshab Mahanta further informed that the Deputy Commissioner of Karimganj has in the past identified a plot of land and informed the same to the health department. He said that the health department vide a letter No. HLB.167/ 2020/06 dated 3 July, 2021 has formed a committee for identification of suitable land for the construction of the concerned medical college. This committee will make a spot visit and submit the report.
Minister Mahanta also replied that for the establishment of a medical college, 20 acre of land is necessary. Generally, the land required for this purpose must be in the same location/ space. He, however, added that undr special circumstances or in cases of North East, the required land (20 acre) can be earmarked in two separate areas. But in such cases, the distance between these two separate plots should not exceed 10 kms.
Meanwhile, Ratabari MLA Bijoy Malakar during the ongoing winter session, took a dig at North Karimganj MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha and stated on the floor of the house that the “Chief Minister has announced just two days back in the Assembly that Karimganj Medical College will be in Ratabari. I want to ask whether Ratabari is in Karimganj district or not?
Till the state government comes up with a clear cut official declaration of the site finalised for establishment of a medical college in Karimganj district, speculations seems to stay alive on this issue not only among the common people but also among the public representatives!
