Panel for Central Vigilance Probe into Pondy medical college

Puducherry, Mar 31 (UNI) A Ministerial Committee has recommended a preliminary inquiry by the Central Vigilance into ''all aspects'' of the Government Medical College here.

According to official sources, the committee headed by Health Minister E Valsaraj and comprising Agriculture Minister V Vaithilingam and Education Minister M O H F Shajahan recommended the Vigilance Inquiry at a recent sitting.

The recommendation was forwarded, and the Central Vigilance personnel were expected to visit Puducherry today or tomorrow.

The medical college was planned at an estimated cost of Rs 234 crore and the construction work had begun.

Though the government promised to make the college operational, the Medical Council of India refused to accord recognition to the college since the administration had shown the hospital as attached to the college.

The MCI wanted a separate hospital in the medical college premises as the Government General Hospital cannot be attached to the medical college to be run by a society.

Meanwhile, the construction work ran into rough weather as the contractor demanded an enhancement in the rate and a revised estimate prepared by a private party showed about Rs 850 crore drawing protest from different quarters.

Following this, the government constituted the Ministerial Committee.

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