3,200 students at MAMC hostel meant for 200: L-G, CM direct PWD to take action
With 3,200 students living at the hostel in the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in Delhi, which can accommodate only 200 students, L-G V K Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Thursday directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to immediately prepare a comprehensive plan to accommodate at least 4,000 students and doctors.
The directions came as the L-G and the CM, along with Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, held an emergency meeting on Thursday to review the security, infrastructure, and amenities at MAMC, Lok Nayak Hospital, G B Pant Hospital (GIPMER), and Guru Nanak Eye Centre Complex. The meeting was attended by the deans, directors, and other senior officials from the departments concerned.
'It emerged during the meeting that an extremely serious situation had arisen over the past few years, concerning security of students and doctors, acute shortage of accommodation, crumbling civil infrastructure, and severe lack of space due to encroachments…,' said the L-G office in a statement.
According to officials, the medical complex was established in 1958 with a strength of 200 students, while the current strength is more than 3,200.
'This has led to a situation where, in a room meant for double occupancy, as many as 6-7 students are staying, leaving zero room for even a study table. Similarly, because of a lack of space, resident doctors were forced to sleep and rest in corridors and outside nursing stations,' said an official.
Officials from the L-G office said that the PWD, which had to develop sufficient accommodation for students and residents, had not been able to do anything till now, because land meant for expansion was allegedly captured by encroachers and land mafia.
In addition to this, the existence of certain Archaeological Survey of India-protected monuments near the complex had made the situation even more challenging because of the unavailability of permission for construction and repair by the ASI.
'Dean (MAMC) pointed out that in 2023-24, a three-month window was provided by the ASI to carry out necessary repairs and maintenance work in the existing structures. However, this could not be done due to funds not being sanctioned by the then government, and MAMC was forced to carry out minor repairs by way of crowdfunding,' the official said.
It was also brought to the notice of the L-G, CM, and the Minister that the buildings were in an extremely dilapidated condition, with chunks of plaster and concrete often falling off, threatening the safety and life of students and doctors. If repairs are not carried out immediately, a mishap could take place, said officials.
The L-G and the CM also directed the Delhi Police to immediately ensure adequate security presence on the campus and act against anti-social elements, who, the students had pointed out, were threatening them. 'Police were directed to ensure immediate and stringent action against bootleggers and drug cartels on campus. All land-owning agencies, along with hospital authorities, were directed to immediately carry out a survey of land allotted to these medical institutions and identify the encroachment thereon… As religious structures are encroaching, the department concerned was asked to refer the matter to the religious committee,' said the official.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Education Department were directed to issue notices to schools illegally operating out of the complex. The ASI was asked to act against encroachers on monuments protected by it, said officials.
Further, the departments concerned have been asked to submit action taken reports, along with pictures, to the L-G, CMO, and Health Minister periodically.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health': Mass session at Sangam Nose today
Prayagraj: The city is set to celebrate the 11th with pomp and show, with around 8,000 citizens participating in a mass yoga session at Sangam Nose under the theme 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health', emphasising the connection between human well-being and the planet's health. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Cabinet minister Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi will be the chief guest at the event. Senior police and administration officials on Friday were on their toes to review last-minute preparations. District magistrate Raviendra Kumar has instructed all govt departments, including health, PWD, Prayagraj Municipal Corporation (PMC), police and traffic police, to ensure foolproof arrangements to accommodate the large gathering at Sangam Nose. Focus has been laid on the dais, matting, traffic and parking, security, potable water, sound, LED screens, and other arrangements. Officials of the district administration have connected online and offline with youngsters, inviting them to be part of International Yoga Day, emphasising that yoga is 'amrit snan' for health and fitness. Officials have also appealed to participants to come in a white dress code and invited the seers and saints community. The officials of PWD have been entrusted to make arrangements for the dais, carpets, sound system, sand art, and LED screens, while the department of Jal Kal has been asked for potable water arrangements. Officials of PMC on Friday inspected the cleanliness drive near Sangam Nose and adjoining areas. Besides, officials of the health department have also been asked for an adequate number of ambulances, deputation of medical and paramedical staff, and ORS counters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Officials of the fire department have also roped in fire tenders at the site. Meanwhile, Arail Ghat witnessed the third Triveni Yog Mahotsav on Friday, a day before the International Yoga Day. Scores of people of all age groups practised yoga exercises. With India known as the world guru for yog sadhna, experts claimed that yoga is such a simple form of exercise through which balance is easily achieved not only in the human body parts but also in the mind and brain.
India Gazette
8 hours ago
- India Gazette
Delhi Govt to host Yoga events at 11 locations with about 20,000 participants
New Delhi [India], June 20 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that the Delhi government will officially celebrate International Yoga Day at 11 locations across the city, marking a significant scale-up in efforts to promote yoga. Approximately 20,000 people are expected to participate in these government-organised events. She criticised the previous government for allegedly politicising yoga and failing to organise official programs. A special yoga song for Delhi, composed by Amit Trivedi, has been introduced for the occasion. 'The Delhi government has decided that Yoga Day will be officially celebrated at 11 places. For the first time, the government is organising big events for Yoga Day on a large scale in Delhi, in which about 20,000 participants will participate in all these government programs. I have received more than 300 invites for Yoga Day, in which the people of Delhi want me to come. The previous government used to see Modi Ji's face in Yoga. So, they had problems adopting yoga, and they never officially organised yoga programs. This time, a very beautiful Yoga song for Delhi has been sung by Amit Trivedi,' she said. Delhi Chief Minister asserted that she will practice Yoga on the banks of the Yamuna on the International Day of Yoga. Speaking to the media ahead of International Yoga Day, she said, 'Tomorrow I will practice Yoga on the banks of Yamuna... Tomorrow will be celebrated like a festival in many places in Delhi... The Delhi government will celebrate this International Yoga Day with great enthusiasm.' Earlier in the day, she said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi made Yoga Day recognised on the world stage so that every country in the world is adopting Yoga with great affection today. Addressing an event at a Yoga, Meditation, and Medical Camp in Delhi's Shalimar Bagh ahead of International Yoga Day tomorrow, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said, 'PM Modi got Yoga recognised on the world stage in such a way that every country in the world is adopting Yoga with great affection today... India will be able to prosper only if it remains healthy.' As India is gearing up to celebrate the 11th International Day of Yoga on June 21, the government is organising a multitude of events nationwide to mark the occasion with 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health' as this year's theme. (ANI)
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Delhi govt plans to explore PPP model for completion and operation of 11 underconstruction hospitals
New Delhi: With a requirement of nearly Rs 9,000 crore for the completion of 11 underconstruction hospitals and the need for the creation of 42,000 additional posts of medical, para-medical, administrative and support staff, Delhi govt is likely to explore the possibility of completion, commissioning, operation and maintenance of these upcoming health facilities on a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Sources said the health and family department of Delhi govt might soon engage a transaction adviser to get "technical, financial and legal analysis" of different aspects of PPP, which would help in choosing an appropriate model and setting the standards for the selection of a credible private entity to deliver the project. The proposal seeking in-principle approval for exploring PPP models and the hiring of a transaction adviser is likely to be placed before the council of ministers soon. The report and recommendations of the transaction adviser will again be placed before the cabinet for "guidance and decision", sources said. They added that chief minister Rekha Gupta held a high-level meeting on May 21 when the decision to explore the PPP mode to complete and operationalise these hospitals was taken. While four multi-specialty general hospitals are coming up in Jwalapuri, Madipur, Hastsal and Siraspur, seven exclusive ICU-bedded hospitals are being built in Shalimar Bagh, Kirari, Sultanpuri, Geeta Colony, Dilshad Garden, Sarita Vihar and Raghubir Nagar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Egypt (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search Ads Search Now Undo The 11 new health facilities were taken up for construction in 2020 and 2021 after the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world. While the construction of four general hospitals started between Sept and Nov 2020, the seven ICU-bedded health facilities were sanctioned in Sept 2021. Sources said no physical progress has taken place in these projects in the past few months. All the hospitals were to be built on priority, but have missed several deadlines due to the paucity of funds. The finance department of Delhi govt flagged a serious "resource crunch" in Sept 2024. In its proposal for considering the public-private partnership model and hiring the transaction adviser, the health department argued that the construction cost already escalated by almost 50% — from Rs 2,663 crore of the initial estimates to Rs 3,947 crore — and to make these hospitals operational, mobilisation of critical resources such as healthcare manpower and medical and non-medical equipment would be required to be put in place. Officials said that commissioning and operation of these 11 hospital projects entailed huge financial allocations, besides the burden of creating thousands of posts, a long recruitment process, and an annual recurring financial burden on their operation. The private enterprises will bring capital, manpower and requisite expertise, and recover the investment through reasonable revenue generation from operation. Sources said that the transaction adviser would also determine the present status of infrastructure, study the legal aspects of the existing contractual agreements of the ongoing construction, and assess the risks in smooth transition to the PPP mode. A project management unit will be set up in the health and family welfare department, with a special secretary as its head, which will provide support to the transaction adviser and expedite the process of consultancy.
