KOCHI: The state government’s decision to rope in Infrastructure Kerala Limited (INKEL) instead of Hospital Service Consultancy Corporation (HSCC) Limited to construct the Cochin Cancer Centre has become a cause of worry for the activists of Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement.
The activists, who have been campaigning for Cochin Cancer Centre, are worried that the interests of INKEL’s stake holders will come into to play if the company is entrusted with the project. The Cancer Centre had been envisaged to provide specialist treatment at affordable rate to the financially backward patients.
“41 percent of INKEL’s share is held by private business groups. Government’s share is very less. Most of the directors are big time businessmen with foreign connections. One of the directors already owns a luxury cancer treatment centre in Kochi. The general observation is that how come such a company was able to win the contract for a pro-people project like Cochin Cancer Centre,” the activists said.
Members of the Justice V R Krishna Iyer Movement, which launched the campaign for the cancer centre, said neither the members of the movement nor the peoples’ representatives from the district were consulted by the government before taking such an important decision. “The unilateral decision by the government is highly suspicious,” members of the movement said.
Krishna Iyer movement volunteers alleged the Health Secretary is misguiding people by making false statements. “He was quoted as stating that INKEL is local company and has the required expertise. They do not have experience in constructing even a small dispensary. How can such a company be entrusted with such a mega project.”
The activists allege, there is a conspiracy behind the decision to keep HSCC away from the project. The Central Government-owned HSCC is one of the largest hospital consultancy organisations in South Asia. The Detailed Project Report was prepared by HSCC. They have the required expertise in constructing large hospitals both inside and outside India.
Hibi Eden MLA said the government decision was unilateral. The opinion of the MLAs was not sought by the government in this matter. INKEL is a company which has no track record of doing such a big project like the Cancer Centre. What has been planned is not just a hospital but a hospital-cum-research institute in Central Kerala. HSCC, which prepared the detailed project report was the ideal agency to carry out the project. The issue will be raised in the next session of the Assembly, Hibi said.
A total of 12.12 acres has been earmarked for the Cancer Centre on the campus of the Government Medical College. A new block which had been constructed on the campus has been identified as the OP section. On August 18, 2014, the then Chief Minister Oommen Chandy laid the foundation stone for the Cancer Centre. However, the project got delayed. Project report was prepared by the Hospital Service Consultancy Corporation (HSCC) Limited.