A news item has been appeared in certain section of press regarding Composite Testing Laboratory (CTL) Kandaghat not getting central grant due to laxity of the State Government.A Spokesman of the State Government said here today that there was no laxity on part of the State Government in maintenance and upgradaton of key institutions. He said that it is incorrect that State Government had failed to allocate Rs. 4.50 crore for the upgradation of CTL Kandaghat and to sign a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) with the Central Government and further contribute 10 percent share of the project.He said that Government of India had sought a proposal for fund requirement for upgradation of Drug Testing Laboratory on 21 August, 2015 and State Government had submitted a proposal of Rs. 4.32 crore on 19 September, 2015 in this regard.
He said that State Government had already approved its share of 10 percent. He said that MoU had been finalized and signing of it was in process. He said that it was also incorrect that tests were being outsourced by CTL Kandaghat. He said that all samples received in it were being tested at the laboratory itself.As regards the establishment of ESIC Medical College at Ner Chowk in Mandi is concerned, the spokesman said that the matter was being pursued with Central Government vigorously. He said that State has already conveyed to the ESIC its in principle agreement to operationalize the college. He said that terms and conditions in this regard is yet to be finalized by the ESIC especially the demand raised by them that the State Government should refund Rs. 285 crore invested by the Corporation alongwith 10 percent interest over and above the amount. He said that ESIC had not responded till now in this regard.