No laxity on govt's part to pursue AIIMS for Kerala: Chandy

On sanctioning of IIT for the state, Chandy said it was part of the process started during the UPA govt

CPI(M) led LDF opposition in Kerala today alleged that the state government's 'failure' to present its case properly before the NDA government had resulted in the state losing out to getting an AIIMS in the current Union budget.

Denying the charge, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said there had been no laxity on the government's part in taking steps to try and get All India Institute of Medical Sciences for the state.

The Centre had written to the state on June 19 asking it to identify two or three sites suitable for setting up AIMS, with a request to reply within one month, he said, adding the state would pursue the matter.

The announcement in the union budget and the new government seeking details for setting up AIMS were two different things, he said.

On sanctioning of IIT for the state, Chandy said it was part of the process started during the UPA government.

He made this remark when CPI(M) politburo member and former minister M A Baby sought to know whether the government was not 'ashamed' that a BJP government had to come to power for getting an IIT though the previous UPA government had promised an IIT to the state several times.

Replying to a notice for an adjournment motion on the issue, moved by P T A Rahim of CPI(M), Health Minister V S Sivakumar said the state had already narrowed four sites-- Nettukalthery Open jail here, KSIDC land at Kinaloor in Kozhikode, HMT land at Kochi-- and it would be intimated to the Centre.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan asked the government to be vigilant in getting sanction for AIIMS.