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AIADMK MLA alleges corruption in medical college construction

Staff Reporter

AIADMK MLA seeks details about the cost of the project

PONDICHERRY: All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam legislator A. Anbalagan alleged in the Assembly that there was corruption in the construction of the Government Medical College.

Seeking details about the cost of the project, the MLA said the sand for filling the hospital site was taken from the Government land. But the Government had been paying a huge amount to a private party for the sand. He submitted documents as proof of his allegation to Speaker R. Radhakrishnan.

Demanding an inquiry into the charges, he said he was ready to resign if the allegation was proved wrong. Intervening, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said that all relevant materials regarding the construction of the hospital would be made available to the members.

Replying to the members' query, Health Minister E. Valsaraj said the project would cost Rs. 234 crore and would come up on 38.72 acres at Kadirgamam.

He said the work had been allotted to Chennai-based Threshold Architecture and the Government had to pay two per cent of the project cost to the firm. Mr. Anbalagan asked why the work was allotted to a private agency. "Is the Public Works Department not competent enough to take up the work," he asked.

Previous experience

Joining the issue, DMK member S.P. Sivakumar asked the Health Minister whether the firm had any experience of constructing hospitals. The Minister replied, "only two firms came forward and the presentation by Threshold was better."

When other members raised the issue again, the Speaker disallowed them from making any further remarks on the subject.

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