Assam to be Medical Hub of entire SE Asia: CM Sarbananda Sonowal

'AIIMS will turn Assam into a medical hub of entire SE Asia'

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has asked the company constructing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Changsari in Kamrup district to tap the human resources in the form of State's youths who have returned from various places of the country because of COVID-19 pandemic scenario.

The Chief Minister visited the AIIMS at Changsari and said that it, once completed, will transform the State into a medical hub of the entire South East Asia.

The Chief Minister visited the site of AIIMS on Sunday and took stock of the progress of its construction. He also held a meeting with officials of the construction firm engaged for building the institution.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister was apprised that the progress of construction was going on in the expected manner and first stage of construction would be completed within its stipulated deadline in June 2021 and the 2nd stage would be completed within June 2022. On being informed that many of the skilled labourers, from outside the State, engaged in the construction had gone back to their native places due to COVID-19 induced lockdown, Sonowal directed the construction firm to engage local labourers from within the State to fill-up the manpower requirement. He also asked them to tap the human resources in the form of State's youths who had returned from various places of the country because of COVID-19 pandemic scenario.

The Chief Minister directed departments like PWD, PHED, APDCL etc. to extend full cooperation in the construction of AIIMS. He reviewed the status of installation of power sub stations, drainage layout for releasing storm water coming down from the nearby hills, provision for drinking water, emergency response system like fire outbreak management within the institution complex etc. He emphasized the need for having a state-of-the-art control room for managing situations like fire etc.

The Chief Minister directed the officials concerned engaged in the construction of the institution to make it one of the most beautiful AIIMS campuses in the country so that tourists from outside feel attracted to visit it. Notably out of the total project cost of more than Rs. 1,200 crore an amount of Rs. 757 crore has been released by the Central Government for construction of the AIIMS.

Later talking to the newsmen, the Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and erstwhile Union Health Minister JP Nadda for granting such a prestigious institution like AIIMS to Assam. He also appreciated Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma for constantly monitoring and supervising the construction works and thanked the local people of Changsari for extending their help and cooperation towards the construction of the institution.

Health Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sharma, Principal Secretary of Health Department Sameer Kumar Sinha and others accompanied the Chief Minister during the visit, a press release said.

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