SHILLONG, July 28: The state government seems to have shelved its plans of constructing the Shillong Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) in Umsawli after realising that the site is not large enough for a decent medical college.
Health Minister James PK Sangma on Thursday said Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has committed to a certain land parcel which will be big enough to build the medical college.
Nearly a decade ago, the state government had laid the foundation for the SMCH at TB Hospital in Mawbah. However in 2018, it had decided to shift the location to Umsawli.
The government’s latest position is likely to further delay the project. But the Health Minister said the government does not want to come up with a medical college that will be a failure even before it starts functioning. That is why, it is in the process of identifying a new site for the project, he added.
The government has already scrapped its agreement with Kolkata-based Kali Pradip Chaudhuri Group. It was assigned the task of building and running the proposed infrastructure.
“We understand the importance of having a medical college as our students have to go out of the state. Therefore, we must go ahead and ensure that the SMCH comes up as early as possible,” the minister said.
He said the government is in the process of identifying parties of repute and experience who have the capacity to run the college. It will soon float the tender.
