Chandigarh 24 August : Learning an important lesson from the past and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab will give a warm welcome Premier Narendra Modi on his first visit to Punjab under the leadership of Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday.Modi is on his way to Mullanpur in the edge of the capital city of the state, Chandigarh after lunch to officially open the world-class 300 beds Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre an ultra-modern cancer treatment facility for tertiary care.
In ads in newspapers featuring photographs of Modi as well as Mann the state government referred to the ceremony as a groundbreaking achievement in the state’s healthcare infrastructure.
It is the first of its kind for cancer treatment in north India according to an advertisement.
In the past, Modi visited the state on January 5 just prior to the announcement of the announcement of the elections for the state assembly and laid the foundation stones of the development plans of Rs 42,750 crore that comprise two massive road corridors to improve accessibility to the most prominent religious centers as well as three health institutions in Ferozepur town, which borders Pakistan.
Due to a major security issue, Modi had cancelled his visit midway through.
The Ministry of Home Affairs took note of the grave security breach The Ministry of Home Affairs had requested a full report from the Congress government.
During the campaign in February Modi traveled to Punjab and solicited to win votes in the name of peace and stability.
Political observers informed IANS that despite the political battle between BJP and AAP the AAP government in the state is rolling out the red carpet for Modi’s visit in order to inaugurate the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, on the model of Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai in the city of Medicity in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) in Mohali district.
The foundation stone of the hospital was laid by the then Manmohan Singh, the then Prime Minister, on December 30 2013.
At the time, Parkash Singh Badal was the Chief Minister.
The hospital was constructed by the federal government at the cost of more than Rs 660 crore.
It is a tertiary-care hospital of 300 beds and is fitted with modern facilities to treat all kinds of cancers.
Punjab has witnessed an increase in the number of cancer cases, particularly in the Malwa belt in the southwest part of the state in recent years.
Environmental and agricultural experts have linked the increase in cancer cases with the overuse of insecticides and pesticides in agriculture.
The districts most affected include Bathinda, Mansa, Muktsar and Sangrur.
A 100-bed cancer hospital is operational in Sangrur town since the year 2018.
Punjab has offered 50 acres free of cost to the Rs 664 crore project.
The cancer center will be outfitted with advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment like two linear accelerators, brachytherapy PECT CT bone Marrow Transplant (BMT), CT simulator, MR simulator, interventional radiology and surgical facilities.
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