State yet to hand over land for AIIMS, finds RTI petition

Madurai: The state government is yet to hand over the 224.24 acres of land for setting up the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Thoppur in Madurai even 23 months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Rs 1,264 crore project, according to a reply from the ministry of health and family welfare (MOHFW) to an RTI petition.
The response to activist R Pandiarajan’s petition also stated that only pre-investment activities are carried out by M/s HITES at the site. “Loan process (by) Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is still in process,” it said adding that construction will start after the loan is sanctioned. Pandiarajan had raised 17 queries subsequent to the replies he got from the ministry for his earlier queries four months ago that stated that the loan agreement with JICA is likely to be signed by December. “But it is shocking that the state government has not handed over the land to the Centre,” he said.
He said most of the questions have not been answered and he has gone for an appeal. They include one on the targeted completion of 45 months — whether it is from the laying of the foundation stone or from the beginning of construction. Answers were sought on the targeted completion of pre-investment works and if an officer has been appointed for the project. While appealing to the government to extend proper support to the Centre for its speedy completion, Pandiarajan questioned the need for awaiting JICA loan when the Centre is able to fund projects that cost several folds more.
Chief coordinator of Peoples Movement for AIIMS at Madurai V S Manimaran said the Centre should pressure JICA to expedite the process of sanctioning loan. “It would take over a decade for the Centre to fund the project in small instalments, so JICA is a better option,” he said. Madurai MP Su Venkatesan said he had written to the CM in June 2019 and in February 2020 to hand over the land for AIIMS to the Centre and to appoint a special officer. “Other states have appointed a special officer for their AIIMS projects but the Tamil Nadu government has not. A dedicated officer can coordinate between the state and Centre and act as a bridge to address various issues in time,” he told TOI.
Accusing minister R B Udhayakumar and the chief minister of not showing interest in the project, he warned of protests if there is delay in appointing the special officer. The minister later clarified at a function that the delay in securing JICA loan for the project was due to the effect of Covid-19. He said the signing would take place soon and construction begin thereafter.