SHILLONG, June 14: Former Health minister, AL Hek has asked the state government to not further delay the construction of the Shillong Medical College and Hospital.
The project has not seen the light of the day even after 10 years since it was conceived.
Hek told reporters the asset is imperative as the state still has the problem of doctors and specialists.
“Many doctors are retiring every year. So, if we delay this project further, we will never get rid of the big challenge of shortage of doctors,” he said.
The BJP legislator blamed the state government for the inordinate delay saying the problem is with the government and the Kolkata-based Kali Pradip Chaudhuri (KPC) Group.
“I read in the media the government has scrapped the agreement with the private partner. But I don’t understand the fault of the KPC Group. It was the fault of the government. How can you expect the private partner to execute the work when land was not handed over to them?” Hek argued.
After scrapping the agreement with the KPC Group, the state government is now working on a new detailed project report (DPR) and holding consultations with some groups for the project.
The government maintained that that the agreement was scrapped as the concessionaire (KPC Group) was asking for amendments to the pact.
At the time of execution of the concessionaire agreement, the government had indicated that a plot of land measuring 29 acres at the TB Hospital compound would be available for the project but subsequently, it identified a new project site in New Shillong.
Earlier, the KPC had stated the total area of the new site was less than what was required for the establishment of a medical college & hospital as per MCI guidelines. In order to manage the shortfall of requisite land, it had requested the government to allow it to use the Ganesh Das Hospital, Shillong, as the teaching hospital.
The agreement with the KPC Group was signed in 2011-12 and the foundation stone was laid in due course on the premises of Reid Chest (TB) Hospital at Jhalupara. However, just after all the hurdles were cleared, the government had in 2018 decided to shift the location to Umsawli in the New Shillong Township.
Last year, a division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya had asked the government to seriously explore the possibility of setting up a medical college in the state to address the healthcare needs of the citizens.
No harm speaking on party’s behalf: Hek
Hek asserted there was no harm in speaking on behalf of his party, BJP.
His remark had reference to party colleague and Labour Minister Sanbor Shullai’s recent statement that Hek should refrain from making “anti-government” statements.
“Sometimes when questions arise, we have to reply. It does not mean that I am doing it individually. It is on behalf of the party,” Hek said.
Shullai had alleged Hek had remained quiet during his tenure as Minister and began speaking against the government only after he was left out of the Cabinet.
But Hek said, “Whatever I speak or Sanbor Shullai speaks or the party president speaks, we do it on behalf of the party. What is wrong in that?”
He denied he maintained silence when he was a Minister and said he had spoken during Cabinet meetings on several occasions.
