SRINAGAR — The Health and Medical Education department has released over Rs 43 crore unspent funds for paying compensation to landowners whose land was acquired for AIIMS Awantipora.
“Sanction is accorded to the release of Rs 43.62 crore as land compensation to Director, Health Services Kashmir for onward placement at the disposal of District Development Commissioner, Pulwama through transfer option via Director Health Services Kashmir for the acquisition of land measuring 272 Kanal for the establishment of AIIMS at Awantipora, Kashmir and realignment of approach for AIIMS respectively,” reads an order issued by the Health department, as per the news agency KNO.
The department has also issued the terms and conditions with the release of unspent funds and said the funds shall be utilized only after fulfilling all the codal procedures/formalities. “The acquisition is completed within the approved cost only and there shall be no cost escalation. Re-appropriation/diversion of funds is not allowed at any level,” the order said.
“The utilization certificate of the released amount shall be furnished to the Health department on time and the Director Finance, Health and Medical Education Department shall vouchsafe the availability of funds on BEAMS portal and accordingly release the funds to the concerned,” it added.
“The instructions/conditions as contemplated in the BEAMS order shall be adhered/fulfilled in letter and spirit,” it added.
The deadline for construction of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Awantipora is December 31, 2024.
The AIIMS was approved by the Central government in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 1,828 crore and will add 1000 beds to its current capacity in Kashmir, including 300 super-specialty beds. The project will have a Medical College with a capacity of 100 students and a Nursing College with a capacity of 60 students.
