The much-anticipated government medical college in the city, which was to start classes from this academic year, has hit a roadblock. If things do not go as planned, it may even take another year.
The medical college issue came up for discussion at the quarterly Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) progress review meeting presided over by District In-charge Minister H S Mahadev Prasad here on Tuesday.
Medical College Director T N Chandrashekar said the solid waste management unit near the proposed medical college should be relocated as the team of the Medical Council of India (MCI), which would be visiting the city in the first week of October, may raise objections. Steps for providing access roads, drinking water and power connection have not been taken up so far, he said.
The proposed hospital is of 800-bed capacity and Rs 70 crore has been earmarked for it. The college provides an opportunity for 150 students to pursue medical studies. But works have not started for laying roads, building quarters for doctors, employees and students hostels, he said.
Only if the works are completed before December, the MCI would give permission to start the college from the next academic year, he stressed.
Prasad directed the officials to shift the solid waste management unit to another location immediately, to enable the college to function from next year. Water would be supplied from Kabini river. Till then, steps should be taken to supply water from Shivapura Gram Panchayat, he directed the Zilla Panchayat Executive Engineer.
The PWD and Cesc should work in tandem and begin works on a warfooting, he stressed. MLAs C Puttarangashetty and R Narendra were present in the meeting.
