KOTTAYAM: The state government has decided to set up a centre of the Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, (SCTIMST) Thiruvananthapuram, in Wayanad district, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here on Friday. Around 200acres of land has been identified at three spots in the district and one will be selected, he said. The Cabinet meet held on Thursday sanctioned Rs 15 crore to meet the initial cost of acquisition.
Chief Minister said that Wayanad MP M I Shanavaz had taken the initiative for the muchneeded facility in Wayanad, and had been interacting with the Centre on this score. At present, the people of Wayanad have to depend on the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital for their medical needs in the absence of facilities nearby. It has been found that not less than 24 lives have been lost recently for want of proper medical facilities in Wayanad. "On the basis of the government directive, the District Collector has identified three spots for setting up a modern hospital," he said.
Relief for Kuttanad farmers
The Cabinet has also accorded sanction to assess the exact requirement of harvesting machines in the Kuttanad area and ensure that they are bought before the next cultivating season. With a view to addressing the issue of lack of storage facilities in Kuttanad belt, it has been decided to build a 4,000tonnes capacity paddy procurement godown at Purakkad in Ambalappuzha taluk in an area of two acres, the Chief Minister said.
Admitting that an amount of not less than `100 crore is yet to be disbursed for the paddy procured from Kuttanad farmers recently, Chandy said that it would be released immediately.
Rehabilitating evictees is top priority
Chandy said that the UDF Government would accord top priority to rehabilitate the evictees from the sites of various development projects. A highlevel meet will be convened in Thiruvananthapuram on June 6 with regard to Moolampilly evictees and the next initiative will be to settle the issue pertaining to Chengara agitators, he said.