Harish Rao rubbishes Kishan’s allegations over AIIMS

Hyderabad: Criticising Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy for spreading false information against the State government on All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bibinagar, Health Minister T Harish Rao on Saturday said that Kishan Reddy was distorting facts on AIIMS issue. A few days ago, Kishan Reddy alleged that the State government failed […]

Hyderabad: Criticising Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy for spreading false information against the State government on All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bibinagar, Health Minister T Harish Rao on Saturday said that Kishan Reddy was distorting facts on AIIMS issue.

A few days ago, Kishan Reddy alleged that the State government failed to give land for AIIMS and on Saturday while addressing a press conference he said the State government did not hand over the building documents and environment clearance certificate.

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In a statement, Harish Rao said Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar received a letter on October 9 from the Central government on AIIMS. He immediately convened a meeting with the departments concerned and ensured that the Terms of Reference (ToR) for preparation of environmental impact assessment report and environment management plan, were accorded.

Referring to Kishan Reddy’s remarks that the State government is yet to hand over the land, Harish Rao said the State government has already handed over 201 acres for AIIMS. The Union Minister said the AIIMS building was constructed during the tenure of former Chief Minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy for the purpose of expanding Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) and not by the Telangana government.

“We want to bring it to the notice of Kishan Reddy that the AIIMS buildings were partially constructed during Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure. After the State formation, the TRS government spent around Rs 45 crore and brought those buildings under usage by starting medical and health services including out-patient and diagnostic services,” Harish Rao said.

After separate Telangana was carved out, Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao requested the Central government to allocate AIIMS to Telangana in accordance with the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, to strengthen health infrastructure in the State.

Since infrastructure facilities including the building developed for NIMS were transferred to AIIMS, classes were immediately started in Telangana. Kishan Reddy’s remarks blaming the State government for the delay in expansion of AIIMS were inappropriate, he opined.

On medical colleges sanctioned by the Centre to Telangana, Harish Rao said the Centre failed to respond on the issue in spite of requesting for the last seven years. A request was also made to the Ministry of Health, but there was no response in the first and second phases. “We could not get a chance in the third phase, due to changes in certain rules,” he added.

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