Cancer hosp at GMCH to be completed within 2 years: Maharashtra govt

NAGPUR: BJP city president Pravin Datke raised the issue of inordinate delay in the construction of proposed hospital and research centre for the cancer patients at the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here in legislative council on Thursday.
Medical education minister Girish Mahajan assured the upper House that the government would purchase the necessary equipment in the next two and half months and complete the entire construction in next one and half years.
“The tender process was started in 2021 for the work hospital. However, the work could not be progressed due to various reasons. After this, a nine-member committee was constituted in this regard. After their report, the work was taken up through the Medical Education Department. The construction of the hospital through the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) will be completed at the earliest. Also, the machinery will be purchased immediately,” he said.
The hospital was sanctioned about three years ago and its tender process was also completed, but the government failed to release the funds, leading to its cancellation.
Raising the issue through the call attention motion, Datke said though the project was sanctioned in the four acres on the GMCH’s premises with 100 beds, no progress was made for the last three years. The cancer patients from Vidarbha region and adjoining states were deprived of its benefits, he said.
“The government had appointed an architectural firm for the project. Even its drawing and other administrative procedures were completed, but its implementation was yet to see the light of the day. Former legislative council member Girish Vyas had consistently pursued this issue during his tenure, but failed to get any response,” he said.
Demanding sanction of Rs20 crore immediately for the project, the MLC said despite approval being granted for its construction, the government had failed to grant funds for purchase of construction material and equipment.
As per the officials from the Medical Education Department, the NIT was entrusted with the task to build the cancer hospital, but it later dropped the project after failing to receive the funds.