After a decision of the Union Government to open 24 new medical colleges in different IITs and NITs, a proposal was given by the NIT, Rourkela (NITR) in February to open a medical college in its premises.
In April the Union Health Ministry had written to the Director of NIT-Rourkela to submit a detail project report (DPR) for establishment of a medical college and hospital with advanced research facility at the institution.
While the BJP welcoming it thanked the Prime Minister for extending support for NITR medical college, the opposition parties came to fight over the issue for vested interest. Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray became astonished with this decision as the proposal for IGH medical college and super specialty hospital is yet to be executed despite the declaration of the Prime Minister three years back. But Sundargarh MP and Union Minister Jual Oram going one step ahead told that both IGH and NITR medical colleges will be set up.
But now it has become clear that there is remote possibility of NITR medical college as the NITR authority could not even submit the DPR in stipulated time as sought by the Health Ministry. In support of their decision for not submitting the DPR, the NITR Registrar SK Upadhaya said, “Under the NIT Act, we are not authorized to award medical degrees.”
Besides, he mentioned some other vital issues which are to be met before going for a medical college. But the question is while the institution gave the preliminary proposal, was its authority not aware of all this. Of course, to minimise the public sentiment, Upadhyay added that the NITR medical college may be delayed but not totally abandoned and the steps will be taken to amend the NIT Act accordingly.
But this issue has once again put the BJP in back foot here. Reacting on the issue, former District Congress president Birendra Senapati lashed out at the BJP-led NDA Government for misleading the people of Rourkela for political gains. Similarly, BJD State secretary Anand
Chandra Mohanty said establishment of medical college is not possible in NITR. “We had earlier told the same. The Centre is trying to mislead the people for the sake of votes,” he told.
On the other hand, BJP leader Nihar Ray threw the ball to the NITR court. He blamed the NIT authorities for the ambiguity over the matter and alleged that the NITR failed to provide relevant documents, causing the delay in execution of the project.