SRINAGAR: The Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara will be relocated to an alternate site due to high flood risk at the existing location, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo said on Friday.
A DIPR statement says that a feasibility committee, led by the Engineer-in-Chief of the PW (R&B) Department, deemed the current site unsuitable after multiple floods in 2024.
The report warned that continued construction would endanger students, faculty, and infrastructure.
“The government has formed a committee under the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to identify a new site. The matter has been taken up with the Agriculture Production Department for final approval,” Itoo said.
“Technical report of the Joint Committee headed by Engineer-in-Chief, PW Department has also reflected that the present site is not tenable”, she added.
“Based on the recommendations of the committee, the matter has now been taken up with Agriculture Production Department for finalization of alternate sites for relocating GMC Handwara”, she stated.
The Minister also informed that the project for New GMC Handwara was sanctioned under the under Centrally Sponsored Scheme ‘Establishment of New Medical Colleges Attached with District /Referral Hospitals (Phase III)’.
She said the Ministry has extended the timelines for the project for one year upto March 2025 and now Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, has again been approached for extension of the timelines for completion of the Government Medical College, Handwara, (Phase III) for two years upto March 2027.
The Minister assured the house that the Government is committed to upgrade the healthcare infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.
She added that the matter of new site has been taken up with the Agriculture Ministry and the land will be identified at such a location which will be accessible to all areas of Kupwara district.
