Admissions barred at 3 medical colleges

Malda: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has barred three medical colleges in the state - Malda, Sagar Dutta and Behrampore - from admitting students for the 2014-15 academic session owing to lack of infrastructure.
The medical college in Malda was sanctioned in 2010 and construction began in January, 2011. Punch Lloyd was awarded the Rs 78-crore project to build eight multistoried buildings that were supposed to house OPD, the college hospital, hostel and quarters.The project was to be completed in 18 months; 41 months have passed but it is yet to be completed. Currently, the firm and the state government are engaged in a blame game for the delay.
Malda Medical College principal Saibal Mukherjee said: "I've heard of the MCI decision but we are yet to receive an order in writing." Minister Krishnendu Choudhury, who was also the chairman of the Patient Welfare Committee, was visibly embarrassed with the MCI decision. "It's certainly most unfortunate if the college is barred from admitting students. I'll certainly look into it and hope the MCI would reverse its decision."
On the other hand, Union minister of state for health and family planning Abu Hasem Khan Choudhury (Dalu) lashed out at the state government for its "failure". "It is a bad news for Malda and the state government is responsible for this. The Centre had allotted Rs 160 crore for the infrastructure for new medical colleges in the state but they never cared to utilize it."