IMPHAL, Dec 21? The first Japanese Government funding multi-crore-rupee 100-bed maternity and children hospital along with casualty and emergency wards is being constructed in the heart of the city. The state government has finally selected the construction site at the present Tombisana High School, Imphal which is opposite to the state Assembly building complex.
This was stated by the Manipur Health and Family Welfare Minister Laishram Nandakumar in reply to a supplementary question by M Nabadwip MLA of the CPI, a coalition partner of the ruling Secular Progressive Front government in the state Assembly during Question Hour on Monday.
Representatives of the Planning Commission have recently visited at Imphal and held discussion with the authorities of the state government for speeding up of the construction works. The construction schedule is yet to be decided, the minister said in reply to another supplementary question on when the works would be started for it.
Manipur Government led by the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh is ready to submit a project report to the Japanese Government through the Japanese International Corporation Agency (JICA) which is taking main responsibility for the proposed hospital as the external funding for the Japanese government has to be discussed amongst the projects to be taken up for the fiscal year 2005-2006.
The Japanese Government has entrusted Rs. 75 crore to the JICA for the proposed hospital. It has also promised to provide the blue print of the hospital along with the necessary equipment at the free of cost.
The State Government will only provide the land while Japan will meet the rest for the construction works. After construction it will be handed over to the State Government and will be run by the doctors from the State. But various organizations including Joint Committee of Medical Department Employees? Association, Family Welfare Department Employees? Association and Manipur Health Services Officers? Association are demanding to construct the hospital at the Old district hospital.