While the Government has marked site for All India Institute for Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Awantipora, residents in Pampore area are protesting against the government decision, demanding premier healthcare facility be set up in Galender in Pulwama district.Javaid Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Galender told KNS that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party “betrayed” the people of Galender.Bhat said that the PDP leaders in their meetings with the people of the area promised AIIMS to be set up in Galender.“Now the PDP government betrayed us by shifting the Institute to Awantipora. PDP has created problems in the area by sparking the issue,” he said.“All the people in Pulwama district want AIIMS to be established in Galender because the state land, about 350 kanals, that was earlier identified by the government is suitable for the healthcare institute. It will not be affected by the floods, and is plain area. While the land identified in Awantipora is hilly,” Bhat told KNS.
Residents on Tuesday protested against ‘shifting’ of AIIMS location from Pampore to Awantipora and warned the government of dire consequences if the site was not re-shifted.The state government had earlier measured over 400 kanals of Kacharai land in Galender. But later, the government said that in Awantipora over 4200 kanals of state land are available which will prove economical for establishing the institute there.The new site fuelled the agitation, with residents in Pampore and Galender uniting in their fight for AIIMS location.Congress party had also supported the “genuine” demand of the residents.State Congress Vice President Mohammad Anwar Bhat accused the ruling PDP of playing “vote politics” over AIIMS.“Pampore has a historic position in the Kashmir region and it has never got its rights. Galender has a central location in the Pulwama district and establishing AIIMS there will be accessible to all the people. I support their genuine demand. They deserve AIIMS,” he said.
“PDP has shifted the location because the party thinks that Awantipora has 4000 votes. And the party believes that such a decision will win favour for them among people,” he said.He said that setting up AIIMS in Pampore will cater to the demand of south, and central Kashmir.But ruling PDP justified its decision of establishing AIIMS in Awantipora, saying that 4200 kanals state land are available in Awatnipora for the premier health Institute.“The government had not marked Galender for AIIMS, but only kept options open. In Galender, only 400 kanals of Kacharai land was available. Government of India will not fund for buying land for the AIIMS. It will only give funds for construction of infrastructure,” PDP legislator from Pampore Assembly constituency Zahoor Ahmad Mir told KNS.Mir said 1700 kanals of land are needed for constructing buildings only, so 4200 kanals of state land in Awantipora will suffice setting up AIIMS there.“Besides land availability, Awantipora falls in Pampore Assembly segment. Residents of Pampore and Galender must understand all these aspects before taking to streets,” he said. (KNS)