Puttur: A proposal to start a new medical college is under consideration with the state government and the 40 acres of vacant land to establish the same at Bannur Sediyapu on the outskirts of Puttur town is ready with relevant revenue documents.
MLA Shankuntal Shetty had requested the then state government in 2003 to establish a new medical college in Puttur. The then government had asked the revenue department to locate 30 acres of vacant land in the town or on the outskirts. Finally, 40 acres of suitable land is ready for the purpose on the outskirts of Puttur town at Bannur Sediyapu.
There are many medical collges in Dakshina Kannada including private medical colleges at Belthangadi and Sullia but Puttur does not have a medical college. MLA Shakuntala shetty has conveyed to the state government the necessity to establish a new one in the town which will help thousands of people living in villages, surrounding Puttur.
Why at Puttur when DK has many medical colleges?
Once established the 100 bed existing government hospital will be upgraded with modern infrastructure and people need not visit Bantwal or Mangaluru for their medical needs. The present land is at a distance of 7km from Uppinangadi and 4kms from Perne on the national highway and the strategic location will help residents of Sullia, Puttur and Belthangadi taulks to avail medical facilities. Patients from Kodagu and Chickmagaluru district can benefit as the travel distance to Mangaluru will be reduced by 40 kms.
Call for concerted efforts
A union of likely beneficiaries was formed in 2004 to elicit views from surrounding village Panchayaths. Except two panchayaths of Alike and Netlamudlur, 37 from Puttur, 14 from Bantwal and 15 from Belthangadi have not conveyed their opinion till date.
Representing the likely beneficiaries union, Dinesh Bhat said, there is a need for concerted efforts to establish the new medical college which is very essential considering the number of both in and out-patients flocking Mangaluru city hospitals from the region. Once the process starts, gradually everything else will fall in place and in that regard the land is kept ready, he said. The response from GP’s is not on expected lines which might be due to the delay since 2003, there is a need to put pressure on the government as the revenue documents (RTC) are ready now, he concluded.
