Jammu and Kashmir: Sites finalised for AIIMS

The Centre has finalised a site each in Jammu and Kashmir's two divisions for setting up AIIMS in the wake of a row in the state last year with people in Jammu demanding the tertiary care institution be set up in that region.

Two sites have been finalised for setting up AIIMS in Jammu and Kashmir -- one at Vijaypur in Samba district in Jammu region and the other at Awantipora, Pulwama, in Kashmir region, Minister of State for Health Faggan Singh Kulaste told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Sufficient fund is available under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna (PMSSY) to take up the project, he said.

The Jammu region had in August last year witnessed protests with Congress and National Conference claiming that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced the premier health institute for Jammu in his budget speech but it was being set up in the Valley.

Besides, the minister said, an AIIMS is being set up in Nagpur under the scheme.

Also, "a site at Jalah village, Mouza Sila Sunduri Ghopa, North Guwahati Revenue Circle, has been approved for the establishment of an AIIMS in Assam", he said in a reply to another question.

The minister, however, said the timeline for making it fully operational will be declared at the time of its administrative approval.