Manoj Singh
ITANAGAR, OCT 4:
Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday said the State Government would facilitate round-the-clock power and water supply and parking facilities at Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) Hospital, Itanagar, on the lines of arrangements made at major government healthcare institutions.
Speaking to media persons after inaugurating a dedicated 33kV power substation and Phase-II staff quarters at the hospital, Khandu said the contribution of the Ramakrishna Mission to healthcare and education in Arunachal Pradesh was significant and deserved continued support.
He recalled the Mission’s longstanding presence in the State, beginning with the establishment of the RKM School at Aalo in 1966, followed by the institution at Narottam Nagar in 1972 and the hospital at Itanagar. He said the Mission had continued to serve the people through its healthcare and educational initiatives.
“We cannot just forget their contribution. It is the responsibility of all of us to support and help the institution as it continues its work in the health and education sectors of the State,” Khandu said.
On the ongoing 200-bed expansion of RKM Hospital, the Chief Minister said the project was progressing and expressed hope that it would be completed within the next one to two years.
On water supply, Khandu said rapid urbanisation in the Itanagar-Naharlagun capital region could lead to a water shortage in the coming years. He said the State Government had been discussing a major water supply project with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and had already initiated steps towards taking it forward.
He said he had instructed the concerned department to process the proposal for a dedicated power and water supply line for RKM Hospital. The State Government would also support water conservation and rainwater harvesting initiatives, he added.
Khandu further said the RKM authorities had accepted the State Government’s request to establish two colleges, one each at Aalo and Narottam Nagar. He said the institutions were expected to be started soon.
On parking facilities in the Itanagar-Naharlagun capital region, Khandu said he had asked the Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) Mayor and Itanagar MLA Techi Kaso to identify suitable locations. He said a site for a parking facility at RKM Hospital had already been surveyed and identified and that construction would be taken up soon.
Khandu said the Vivekananda Bhavan Phase-II, comprising 18 staff quarters, and the 33kV power substation inaugurated on Sunday would address basic infrastructure requirements of the hospital. He stressed that reliable power supply and decent accommodation for healthcare workers were essential for a good healthcare institution.
Later, the Chief Minister attended the hospital’s annual award ceremony and appreciated doctors, nurses and other staff for their service and commitment to the institution.
Home and Border Affairs Minister Mama Natung, PHED Minister’s Advisor and Koloriang MLA Pani Taram, Power Minister’s Advisor and Tali MLA Jikke Tako, officials of the Power and Health departments, local leaders, RKM authorities, medical professionals and others were present.
