Guwahati: AIIMS Site selection dragged to High court

Guwahati: The issue of selection of site for the proposed AIIMS in Guwahati  has reached new heights after Krishak-Sramik Unnayan Parishad, Assam (KSUPA) has filed a PIL in this matter with the State High Court.

As reported by The Senital, the site which is in speculations to be selected for the institute, is in Sangsari in Kamrup, which is a wet land with the water of the place is also not floride-free, said Pradip Kalita, President, KSUPA . Thus the water is not suitable for the intake of patients admitted. On the contrary, the report of the expert committee has affirmed that Raha is the most suitable site for stationing the institute.

KSUPA president Pradip Kalita said “The report of the expert committee says Raha as the most suitable site for AIIMS. However, a section of vested interest politicians have been out to set up the institutions somewhere other than Raha. A plot of 200 acre plain land is available at Raha for the medical institute. If need be, more land can also be made available there for the institution. On the contrary, only 100 acre wetland land is available at Sangsari in Kamrup. As many as 4 lakh truckloads of earth are required to make the wetland fit for the medical institution. Where will the earth come from? How many hills will have to be cut for the purpose? These facts can be guessed at ease. Any earth-cutting on the hills in Guwahati will have direct effects on the biodiversity.”

The center planned to invest an amount of Rs 1,000 crore to set up a 750-bedded All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Assam in the mid of this year and the work was suppose to begin soon after the approval of the Union Government.