JAGIROAD, July 22 - There is a new twist to the AIIMS issue with a strong plea being made by the AIIMS Demand Committee of Jagiroad in favour of considering the name of Jagiroad for setting up of the apex medical institution. Responding to the demand, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal invited the Demand Committee for a discussion at his official chamber recently.
During the discussion, on behalf of the people of the locality, the Committee told the Chief Minister that setting up of the AIIMS at Jagiroad could be the best options for a number of reasons. The place, situated in the middle of Assam, is just 40 km off the State capital and is also in close proximity to the Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (70 km).
The seven-member representative body of the Demand Committee led by its president and secretary, Manoranjan Tamuly and Prabin Deka respectively also stated that there is enough suitable government land, free from any encroachment at the Naldhara kisamat under Gova mouza of Mayong Revenue Circle of Morigaon district in the vicinity of the town. The Committee felt that with relatively minimum infrastructural development, that plot of land might prove to be much better than the other plots. The Committee also pointed out to the easy road and rail connectivity of the place, lying as it is by the very side of the East-West Corridor and also the two railway stations, viz., Jagiroad and Azuri. Being a commercial and industrial centre, the town has more than 16 branches of government and non-government financial organisations. Besides this, the representatives also pointed out that as a gateway to the state of Meghalaya and four Assam districts, lying in closest proximity, Jagiroad offers many potentialities for being a candidate for the project.
The Chief Minister in response to the submissions by the Committee assured that the Government will send the proposal for an AIIMS at Jagiroad along with the relevant documents submitted by the Committee to the Centre very soon. He however said that the Site Selection Committee of the concerned department could only make a final decision on the matter and wished that the concerned bodies now agitating for AIIMS in various localities will show patience and cordially wait until a final decision is arrived at on the vexed issue.
