Minister for Labour and district in-charge for Haveri Shivaram Hebbar has directed the construction company and the officials concerned to ensure that the work on the government medical college in Haveri is completed by December this year and academic activities begin in January 2023 in the new building.
Speaking at a review meeting after inspecting the progress of the construction work on the government medical college building in Haveri on Monday, he openly expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work.
He said that the delay has been taken seriously and the officials and contracting firm has been directed to expedite the work so as to complete the work by December-end.
“I have directed them to take up works on the connecting road, drinking water supply, administrative block, residential quarters and hostels. The Chief Minister, who reviewed the progress via virtual meeting from Bengaluru, is very much upset over the slow pace of work. It is a matter of disgrace that the work is moving at a slow place in the Chief Minister’s home district,” he said.
Mr. Hebbar said that only 30% of the work has been completed so far and still 70% work is pending. He said that the contractor has been instructed to complete the work in a time-bound manner. District-level and State-level committees will also be set up to review the works, he said.
Special officer
Mr. Hebbar said that to facilitate coordination among various departments and to expedite the work on the government college, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat Mohammed Roshan will be appointed as special officer. This apart, a full-time director will be appointed to the medical college, he said.
The Minister asked the chief executive engineer of the health department to review the progress on a day-to-day basis. A technical committee led by Chief Engineer of Karnataka Health Services K. Manjappa will visit Haveri every 15 days to review the progress of work, he said.
Mr. Hebbar said that the State Government will take care of the modalities to be followed with regard to recruitment of staff and admission process and sanction to various proposals. Works to be permitted and sanctioned at the district level should be carried out by the Deputy Commissioner and zilla panchayat chief executive officer immediately, he said.
He also directed the Deputy Commissioner to immediately complete the modalities for acquisition of 3 acres of land to the right side of the medical college and two acres on left side of the college.
“The action plan on the ₹40-crore drinking water project aimed at supplying potable water to medical and engineering colleges and the Deputy Commissioner’s office should be submitted immediately to the government. And, within the next two months, the road should be laid,” he said.
Speaking at the review meeting, Principal Secretary of the Department of Medical Education Naveen Raj Singh directed the contractor to expedite the civil works and asked the officials to submit proposals on the drinking water supply project and land acquisition immediately.
Member of Legislative Assembly Nehru Olekar and Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Shettennavar briefed about the steps taken so far.
Special Officer of Medical College Arvind Mulagund said that as per Medical Council of India guidelines arrangements for holding classes for 150 students in a block in the government engineering college at Devagiri have been made. Member of Legislative Assembly Srinivas Mane and senior officials were present.
