Shillong, Sep 15: Gambegre legislator Saleng A Sangma on Thursday alleged that the site where construction of Tura Medical College is underway has been made a safe haven by militant outfits.
“A few months back, I got a report that around 70 unknown militants were there (at the site of the Tura medical college),” Saleng said while raising a supplementary query on the penultimate day of the Assembly.
He also sought to know whether the government has intelligence inputs on this as the project site, if left unmonitored, will become a safe haven for anti-social elements.
In his reply, Minister in-charge Health James K Sangma said he had not received any report on this. He, however, assured that the Home Department will be asked to enquire into the matter.
The minister further assured that it is the sincere endeavour of the government to complete the project.
“Pursuant to that, we have set up a committee headed by the secretary of health who is monitoring the progress of the construction and status of the project,” he said.
James informed that the construction of Tura Medical College is 33% complete.
On the project cost, the minister said the Tura , which is approximately to the tune of Rs 243.82 crore, is centrally sponsored and the Union Government’s share is over 70% (Rs 172 crore).
“Till now, Rs 41 crore has been spent, which is 17%,” said James.
He added that the scheduled date to complete the project was on January 27, 2021 but owing to various reasons, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the work was affected.
“As sought by the construction company, we have given extension to complete the project till February 7, 2023,” James added.
When Rangsakona legislator Zenith Sangma wanted to know as to when the first session of the MBBS course will start, the minister said that there are many challenges and it would be wrong on his part to give any specific date.
With regards to the issue raised by Nongkrem legislator Lambor Malngiang on the status of the Shillong medical college, James said that after cancellation of the MoU, the government is inviting new parties for PPP mode to start the project.
The government has allotted 50 acres of land in the New Shillong Township as the new site for setting up of the project.
