Apollo project aborted; BJP men irked

Even the previous Congress government was not averse to the idea of the district having two colleges. Shanta Kumar, now a member of Parliament, had signed an memorandum of understanding MoU with the premier medical chain of hospitals, Apollo, to establish a Mini PGI at Holta, near here. The state government had reportedly transferred nearly 60 acre of land to the Apollo Trust and the foundation stone was also laid in 1992. The rest of the expenditure was to be borne by the Apollo and willing donors who had assured large amounts. But the scene changed once the Shanta Kumar led government fell.

Subsequently Congress chief minister Virbhadra Singh was not averse to the idea but later announced opening of a medical college at Tanda when a meeting of the donors convened at Dharamsala failed to evoke favourbale response.

Now that the BJP-led government has returned to power in Himachal Pradesh, the people, especially from district Kangra, were hoping that the prestigious project would see the light of the day, but the Chief Minister8217;s categorical statement that 8220;Appolo project has practically been aborted8221; has disappointed many.

With the Apollo project aborted and the Tanda Medical College in hot waters as it has not received recognition from the Medical Council of India MCI, the students fear about their career prospects. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, however, says the MCI was being persuaded to conduct another tour of inspection once the necessary infrastructural facilities are complete. But such a possibility, at present, remains remote as the Supereme Court has endorsed the viewpoint of the Medical Council.

Apollo project near Holta aimed at providing medical facilities to nearly two-third population residing in nine districts of Himachal Pradesh as PGI is a long distance.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that BJP grass-roots workers of the area are planning to form 8220;Apollo Sangharsh Samiti8221;. Interestingly, the BJP government has backtracked its major pre-poll issue as it had promised to establish Apollo project on priority.