Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday blamed the SGPC, the Akali Dal and former Union minister Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa for the delay in the construction of the Government Medical College (GMC) in Mastuana Sahib.
He also indicated to shift the GMC to another location after getting the required 25 acres of land.
“I am compelled to speak on this, as I tried my level best to solve the problems. But Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, leader of Shiromani Akali Dal and SGPC have come together to stop us from building GMC . The SGPC has taken a stay on the construction. Had it not been for this, we would have completed 70 per cent of the construction,” alleged Mann at the GMC’s site near Mastuana Sahib College on Changal Road.
CM Mann also offered that SGPC, Shiromani Akali Dal and Dhindsa can get their names written on the foundation stone if they feel insecure.
“Residents should not be worried about the fate of GMC as I will get it constructed. GMC will be constructed around Sangrur as I will get land from any gram panchayat. I do not want to grab land like other leaders. But the delay in formation of GMC has exposed the reality of SGPC, Dhindsa and SAD leaders.
He said that the GMC is a total Rs 460 crore project and will be constructed over 25 acres and will start with 330 MBBS seats in the first year and later the number will be increased to 130.
On 23 May 2022, the land was registered in the name of the Director of Medical Education and Research and on 1 July 2022, the government also appointed Dr. Vishal Chopra as the Director-cum-Principal of the proposed GMC.
“I have never interfered and in fact, I also want GMC to be built at the earliest. But it should be constructed as per the law and not by violating any law,” said Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa.
Maan had laid the foundation stone of the institute on August 5, but after the dispute over the ownership of the land, not a single brick has been laid till now. The land on which the government wants to build the GMC is reportedly registered in the name of Gurdwara Sachkhand Angitha Sahib and is under the Sant Attar Singh Gursagar Mastuana Trust.
“SGPC has all the authority and the Punjab government should initiate dialogue with SGPC directly to remove any legal hurdles. Former SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal said, only SGPC can give permission to use the land, no other committee.
Two protests are being held in front of the DC office, where residents are demanding action against the officials who transferred the land, and the second protest is at Longowal, where residents are demanding that the construction of the GMC be expedited. Two cases regarding the ownership rights of the land are also pending in the High Court.
News Source: tribuneindia