The Centre on Wednesday told the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has chosen Thoppur in Madurai for the establishment of AIIMS in Tamil Nadu.
Putting an end to Tamil Nadu’s wait for the premier medical institute, the Centre communicated the information to the court in a contempt petition filed against it following the long delay in deciding the location.
Assistant Solicitor General V. Kathirvelu and counsel for the Centre P. Paul Pandi made the submission before a Division Bench of Justices C.T. Selvam and A.M. Basheer Ahamed.
Taking cognisance of the report, the Court closed the contempt petition.
The Selection Committee, which convened a meeting on June 18, chose Thoppur in Madurai over Pudukottai town in Pudukottai district, Perundurai in Erode, Sengipatti in Thanjavur and Chengalpattu in Kancheepuram.
A communication to this effect was sent to the Principal Secretary of the State Health and Family Welfare Department on June 19 by the Union Ministry.
In its communication, the Centre said Thoppur was approved subject to certain conditions. These include: four-lane connectivity from the National Highway to the site, 20 MVA power supply from two different feeders and adequate water supply.
Handover of land free of encumbrances/encroachments, shifting of low-tension transformers located at the site and an agreement with Indian Oil Corporation before finalising the construction plan of the institute are the other conditions.
