Decks cleared for Medical college

After a lull in construction works for the proposed Nagaland Medical College at Phriebagie Kohima since early 2016, the government of Nagaland has given the green signal to complete the unfinished construction works so that admission to the academic session could begin at the earliest.

According to CMO, chief minister Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsü gave the go ahead during an interaction with the Project Governing Committee of the Nagaland Medical College at Chief Minister’s Secretariat Office on Wednesday. 

At the power point presentation of the Master Plan of the college, the Chief Minister said the project was a dream come true for every Naga. Though the state faced some problems with land owners, the issues have been resolved as land owners have agreed in principle to donate land for the purpose of the medical college. 

Dr. Shürhozelie expressed hope that within a month’s time, all issues would be resolved. 

He said in Nagaland, all the land belong to the private individuals and communities which often placed certain difficulties on the government with regard to acquisition for developmental works. He however, expressed happiness that the land owners of Phriebagie, P Khel were agreeable to come to terms with the state government.

The Chief Minister also expressed his gratefulness to the Medical Council of India and the Central Government for arranging necessary funds for the works to begin. Medical minister, P. Longon who was also present at the meeting, expressed determination that work will continue to complete the project with whatever fund available. 

It may be mentioned that in today’s meeting the state government approved the master plan of the medical college. The state government with the H&FW department also erected the boundary pillar for the college site and the soil testing in the site had also been completed.

It may be recalled that after the proposed Nagaland Medical College was earmarked at Phriebagie Kohima, the foundation stone laid by then chief minister Neiphiu Rio on March 3, 2014. 

The proposed medical college will have more than 200 beds strength at an estimated unit cost of Rs. 189.00 crores on a funding pattern of 90:10 Central and State Governments. However there is likelihood of price escalation pushing up the estimates.

The College building itself was estimated at Rs. 28.48 crore (23.40 crore for Civil Works + Rs. 5.00 crore for Equipment). Earlier, it was envisioned that the academic session would start by 2015-16 but has been extended to 2016-17. However, unless all the basic infrastructure and faculty are in place, the academic session could start only by 2017-18. 

The area for the medical college was earmarked at 130 acres but it was reduced to 40 acres owing to land compensation amount. Earlier, the compensation was priced at Rs.12 per acre but later it was revised to Rs.35 lakh per acre.