HYDERABAD: The state government is making all efforts for setting up All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Bibinagar in Nalgonda district and make it functional at the earliest.
Replying to a question raised by P Sekhar Reddy and others in the state Assembly on Saturday, health minister Laxma Reddy said that though there was no provision in the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the Centre had agreed for setting up AIIMS after chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had taken up the issue with the Prime Minister Modi and Union health minister.
He pointed out that 150 acres was allotted for NIMS in the area and the state government has agreed to make available 60 more acres for AIIMS and the Centre gave its consent readily.
The minister said that the proposed AIIMS, to be set up at a cost of Rs 823 crore borne by the Central government, will also have a medical college, a nursing college and a research centre.
Opposition members pointed out that a building was already constructed for NIMS there and an amount of Rs 93 crore was allotted by the then YSR government of which Rs 73 crore was already spent. They want the government to make use of the present building for NIMS rather than wait for a new building and other infrastructure.
The minister said since the Central government has already approved for establishing AIIMS it would be more useful and viable to have such an institution rather than going for NIMS.
Moreover, it should be noted here that the Centre had given its consent for AIIMS after the state government had shown the building meant for NIMS as readily available for the all-India institute, he added and assured that all steps would be taken to make AIIMS function at the earliest.