The Coimbatore Medical College Hospital premises witnessed heated exchanges between environment activists and officials when a 100-year-old neem tree was felled to pave way for the construction of a 3.11 lakh sq ft building for the hospital. Nature Conservation Society president N.I. Jalaludeen reached the spot along with others to prevent cutting of the tree. But by the time the workers had finished felling it. Mr. Jalaludeen asked officials why the option of uprooting and relocating the tree was not explored. He pointed out that a similar effort was carried out in Tirupur recently.
Mr. Jalaludeen expressed his dismay over the plan to remove 86 trees.
Patients and visitors to the hospital too expressed their displeasure over the inconvenience caused by the dust generated during the demolition work. They asked the PWD authorities to take steps to control dust.
Mayor S.M. Velusamy; Deputy Mayor Leelavathi Unni; District Revenue Officer K. Karpagam; R. Duraiswamy, MLA; Dean of the Medical College Hospital R. Vimala; Resident Medical Officer P. Sivaprakasam; Superintending Engineer of PWD Venkatapathi; attended the bhoomi pooja.
The new building coming up at a cost of Rs 50 crore spread over 3.23 lakh sq ft will house administrative office, medical superintendent office, canteen block, mortuary, post-mortem examination block, radio diagnosis block, toxicology black, emergency operation theatre, laboratory, bio-chemistry, central lab, Intensive Coronary Care Unit, Intensive Medical Care Unit and casualty block. The building will have dump lifts, bed lifts, and ramps.
