CHENNAI: Clearing the air on All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital row, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday said, “The government is for setting up the hospital in any one among the five places shortlisted for the project.”
DMK MLA K. Ponmudi's raised a query on why the CM had recommended to the Central government that AIIMS could be set up in Chengipatti in Thanjavur district referring the demands from ruling party including a minister, for establishing the project in their respective districts. Revenue minister RB Udayakumar and an MLA had threatened to resign their posts if the proposed hospital is moved to Thanjavur from Madurai.
“The members had sought the project for their districts with the aim of benefitting the people in their area and nothing else. The Central team had found shortcomings at each of the proposed sites and there was an opinion that Chengipatti in Thanjavur could meet all the requirements,” he said.
“To ensure speedy implementation of the project and that it does not go out of Tamil Nadu, we mentioned the place to the Central government. The Central government, however, did not accept Sengipatti as well,” Chief Minister Palanisami clarified.
“Now, the Central government is considering setting up the hospital in one among the five places. Our stand is that it should be set up at any one of the proposed locations,” he added.
A central team had visited five places in 2015 including Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Madurai, Perundurai and Chengalpattu for selecting the land for the project.
