Date:15/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/15/stories/2006031508310300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Belgaum medical college work delayed by two months

Staff Correspondent

MP visits the site, says college will start functioning as scheduled

Government to invite MCI team for inspection in June
Rs. 10 crores released for the work

Of 108 posts, 30 have been filled

Belgaum: The delay in the construction of the proposed Belgaum medical college came to light when Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Belgaum Suresh C. Angadi visited the site on the district hospital premises here on Tuesday.

Public Works Department Executive Engineer R.T. Jungle said the civil works were behind schedule by two months. The delay has forced the State Government to re-schedule its invitation to the Medical Council of India team to inspect the infrastructure created for the medical college from March to June.

Mr. Jungle promised to complete the work under the first phase as per the norms of the MCI by May 31 this year. The Government had planned to invite MCI team in March.

Mr. Angadi inspected the civil works and reviewed them with the Karnataka Land Army and the Public Works Department officials supervising the construction work.

He told presspersons that although there has been delay in completing the works, there should not be any reason for anybody to become apprehensive on the decision of the Government to start the college from the next academic year. He was referring to apprehensions following change of guard in the State.

Mr. Angadi complimented the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh for sanctioning a government medical college to Belgaum.

Priority

He said the Belgaum medical college will get priority as the Government has promised all possible assistance to get the work completed so that the college can start functioning from the next academic year.

The MP said so far the Government has released Rs. 10 crores. Of this, Rs. 6.69 crores have been spent on various works.

The works to be completed by May 31 include basement, ground floor and first floor of the college building, and hostels.

Recruitment

College principal Gurulingmurthy said that of the 108 posts, 30 have been filled.

Meanwhile, a quality control unit has been set up to monitor the quality of the civil works. An assistant executive engineer heads the team with members drawn from two engineering colleges in the city, Mr. Angadi added.