Special
Correspondent
Silchar: The proposed medical college at Karimganj after months of wrangling over the selection of land is now caught in the ego of two BJP MLAs, Krishendu Paul of Patharkandi, and Bijoy Malakar of Ratabari. Knowing well, this will be the main poll plank for them in the ensuing 2021 elections, they have pitched their voices with their own arguments to claim the establishment of the medical college in their respective constituencies of the district with 12 lakh population. During his 3 day hurricane visit of the valley recently, Minister of Education, Himanta Biswa Sarma, refused to be drawn into any controversy and advised both the warring MLAs to mutually settle the selection of land.
To be fair, people of Ratabari constituency formed a demand committee, demanding medical college at the picturesque Sonbeel area. They advanced their arguments with logic and carried on movement for that fortifying the stand of MLA Bijoy Malakar. This is not an election or emotional issue. The location of medical college, feel the citizens, should be considered in the larger interest of the people, keeping in mind the strategic importance, connectivity, socio-economic structure and overall easy access.
90 percent people of the district want Suprakandi, 10 km from Karimganj, abundant vacant land on both sides of NH 8, rail and road connectivity and at the epicentre of all the 5 constituencies. Being strategically located, patients not only from the district, but also from the valley, Mizoram, Tripura, and neighbouring Bangladesh will flock to this medical college if it develops best of health infrastructure. Silchar Medical College and Hospital has to cater to the basic and emergent medical needs of 40 lakh people of Barak Valley.
After Sarbananda Sonowal led BJP Government came to power in 2016, Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, declared a medical college at Karimganj. No progress could be made as the issue turned political and now caught in the cobweb of whims and wishes of two MLAs. Congress MLA Kamalakha Dey Purkayastha of Karimganj (North) rather blamed the State government for dragging its feet when the Centre allotted fund to start the work for the medical college and waited for polls to come and take political advantage.
Subrata Bhattacharjee, Krimganj BJP President, preferred to maintain equidistance from the ego fight of two MLAs, but admitted it was the then MLA and now MP, Kripanath Mallah, who advocated for medical college at Ratabari. He asked the MLAs to rise over ego and think of public interest. Otherwise, medical college will be put on back burner and the non BJP government , if it comes to the citadel of power at Dispur, will shelve it forever, he cautioned.
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