Cabinet nod soon for medical college in Palakkad

PALAKKAD: The Cabinet meeting on May 16 is likely to take a decision on approving and clearing the medical college in the district.Health Minister V S Sivakumar has sought a detailed report from the Health Secretary in this regard. The report will cover the formalities to be observed while sanctioning a medical college.
It may be recalled that Tourism and Scheduled Castes Welfare Minister A P Anil Kumar, who is in charge of the district, had announced that a medical college will be set up in the district with the financial assistance from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes Welfare Department.The Department for the Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes had submitted a detailed report in this regard to the Health Department on the directions of the minister.
District panchayat president T N Kandamuthan said that the classes could commence at the district hospital from the next academic year since 7,000 sq ft of space is available there. As per the norms of the All-India Medical Council, the colleges in rural areas should have at least 25 acres of land, Kandamuthan said. The government is now scouting for the required 25 acres of land. Land belonging to the Irrigation Department is available in Malampuzha. Though the Indian Telephone Industries has land in Yakkara, in the past the unions had opposed handing over of the land for other purposes.