KOCHI: The Justice V R Krishna Iyer movement lashed out against government’s failure in implementing the Cochin Cancer Centre project. Though Chief Minister had made several promises regarding procurement of financial grant and other related works for the Cancer Centre last April, none of the decisions have been implemented so far, said Sanal Kumar, a member of the movement.
In the last meeting it had been accessed that a liaison officer has to be appointed who will be responsible for procuring finances for the Cancer Centre project. However, though a decision was taken to appoint a top level official of the rank of a CIAL or KMRL officer, nothing concrete has so far materialised, the movement members alleged.
Though the Chief Minister had assured that the government will hold discussions to procure a `450 crore grant from the District Cooperative Bank, which would pay for a huge chunk of construction of the Cancer Centre, nothing positive has come to fore so far.
The movement also lashed out against the decision of the government to remove the Hospital Service Consultancy, which had prepared the design for the National Cancer Centre currently under constructed in Haryana, as the consultant of the project. According to them, the Consultancy which has a good track record was removed to satisfy the needs of vested interests. The consultancy had submitted the project report and had also promised the completion of the work within two years.
The government has, meanwhile, failed to clear the doubts of the general public regarding the annuity model for the Cancer Care Centre. “It is against the interests of the public to bring in private partnership for the construction of the Cancer Centre since the overall purpose of a government operated hospital will not be fulfilled,” the volunteers said.
At present, the Central Government has blocked the grants allotted for the construction of the Cancer Centre, since the state government has failed to provide the project report so far.
