Despite claims that the government medical college here would start functioning by June next year, the authorities are unsure when the work, scheduled to have begun in April, will get under way.
Special officer of the project P.G.R Pillai told The Hindu that the government had submitted two revised tenders some four months ago, and the work would start within a week of getting final approval.
However, Dr. Pillai was noncommittal as to when the project work would actually begin.
There is concern that the functioning of the college, proposed to come up at Ukkinadukka, near Badiadukka, would get delayed further, dealing a blow especially to the hopes of families of endosulfan victims in and around the district.
The college has seen no construction work other than levelling of some land. Only a sign board notifying the college site greets visitors to the spot.
Dr. Pillai said a fresh Rs.23-crore works tender for the college complex and a Rs.70-crore tender for the hospital building had been submitted to the government.
“Once the government gives final approval to the revised work tenders, we will be able to begin the work in a week,” he said.
The first phase work of the building complex is to be taken up utilising the Rs.25 crore earmarked as part of the comprehensive development package for the district recommended by the Prabhakaran Commission and a Rs.68-crore loan taken from HUDCO. The district does not have a single medical college of its own, and the people here have to rely on hospitals in Mangalore, at Pariyaram in Kannur, and other medical colleges in the State for expert medical care.
No date fixed for work to get under way
Work will start within a week of final nod: official
