DW BUREAU / chandigarh Acceding to the proposal of Tata Memorial Centre (TMC) to create additional advanced facility for treatment of children inflicted with cancer and persons suffering from leukemia at its upcoming 300-bedded Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (HBCHRC) in Medicity at Mullanpur (New Chandigarh), Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday assured that he would soon personally take up this issue with Government of India for seeking its approval at the earliest. An assurance to this effect was given by Bhagwant Mann to the visiting delegation of TMC led by its Director Dr. Rajendra Badwe, which called on the Chief Minister at his official residence this morning. Highly lauding this unique initiative of TMC, the Chief Minister hoped that with the creation of this additional state-of-the-art facility for the advanced treatment of children suffering from cancer as well as persons inflicted with leukemia in the upcoming ultra-modern cancer tertiary care facility at Mullanpur, first of its kind in northern India would cater to the needs of such patients from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, J&K and Himachal Pradesh. Apprising the Chief Minister about the status of this prestigious project Dr. Badwe said that the much-awaited HBCHRC at Mullanpur is in the advanced stage of completion and likely to be fully operational by August this year. He also informed that the Chief Minister that the 120 bedded Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital, Sangrur with ultra-modern cancer care facilities was fully functional and catering to the residents of nearby areas from southern Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana. Seeking personal intervention of the Chief Minister, Dr. Badwe also requested him to get the remaining civil works completed expeditiously at the HBCHRC, Mullanpur besides arranging proper accommodation for senior faculty till their residential complex is ready, which may take at least two to three years to come up. Pointing out further Dr. Badwe informed the Chief Minister that their management had already requested Prime Minister's Office to grant immediate permission to start the Mullanpur Hospital. He also urged the Chief Minister to take up this matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for further pushing the case for early clearance as Prime Minister is the Minister Incharge of Ministry of Atomic Energy. Responding to Dr. Badwe's request, Bhagwant Mann asked his Additional Chief Secretary to personally take up the issue with concerned authorities for early completion of the hospital without any further delay and also tie-up with GMADA for requisite accommodation to its staff. The Chief Minister also assured the visiting delegation that he would soon flag this issue with PM for its expeditious clearance. Reiterating his government's firm commitment, Bhagwant Mann said that all out efforts are being made to provide the best possible healthcare facilities to its citizens in several people friendly initiatives like setting up of Mohalla Clinics besides up-gradation of existing medical and health infrastructure both in rural and urban areas. Notably, this advanced cancer care and research project, a unit of Tata Memorial Centre Mumbai, under the Department of Atomic Energy, is being set up with a sanctioned cost of Rs 664-crore in the built up area of 40,545 square meters for which 50 acres of land has been provided free of cost by the Punjab Government. Prominent among those who attended the meeting included Additional Chief Secretary to CM A. Venu Prasad and Principal Secretary Medical Education & Research Hussan Lal besides Director HBCHRC, Mullanpur Dr. Divetia, Deputy Admin Officer TMC BD Nigasure and Consultant TMC Nishu Singh Goel. (editor@dailyworld.in)