CM clarifies on setting up of Tura Medical College

FROM A CORRESPONDENT                               

SHILLONG, Jan 20: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma today clarified that the delay in setting up of Tura Medical College, was because the land at Balalgre, falls beyond 10 km from Tura Civil Hospital.

“It has posed a hurdle and the government is looking for a new area which would be notified soon,” Dr Sangma said.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the foundation laying ceremony for new Damalgre Community & Rural Development Block at Rerapara in South West Garo Hills on Friday.

It may be mentioned that the foundation for the Medical College which will be run by the state government was laid at Balalgre in 2013.

Dr Sangma informed that although the Centre had approved setting up of two medical colleges in Tura and Shillong during the tenure of Union Health Minister Gulam bi Azad, the new guidelines have posed a problem in going ahead with the project.

“The land at Balalgre would now be used for setting up of Captain Williamson Sangma Technical University and College of Architecture and Urban Planning,” Dr Sangma informed.

He said that this institute would be one of the finest colleges in the Northeast.

Dr Sangma also appealed to the public to be generous in providing land to the government so that development and welfare activities could be taken up.

The Chief Minister also reminded the gathering of their responsibility to partner with the government in the developmental process rather than creating differences and hampering the momentum of growth.

He also reiterated the commitment of his government for creation of more sub-divisions, police stations, setting up of medical and engineering colleges thereby creating more job opportunities to the youth. It may be mentioned that while the medical in Tura would be run by the state government the one in Shillong would run under the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP). The State Government has inked a concessioire agreement with Kolkata-based KPC Group for construction of the Shillong Medical College under the PPP mode at a location which presently houses the TB Hospital in Mawbah locality of the city. The TB Hospital will be shifted to Umsawli in New Shillong.