Karnataka Assembly Speaker Ramesh Kumar on December 13 directed the Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda to call for an urgent meeting of concerned officials to look into the issue of lack of infrastructure facilities in the newly opened medical colleges in the state.

His instruction came during the question hour when BJP member Dattatreya Patil Revur highlighted the sub-standard and lack of infrastructure in the new opened government colleges. He also appealed the government to release Rs 135 crore to Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology in Kalaburagi. The government had decided to release Rs 50 crores to this unit but it will not be enough, he said.

Karwar legislator Rupali Nayak also highlighted the lack of proper infrastructure in Karwar medical college. Mr Gowda agreeing with the speaker and said he would immediately call a meeting of officials and legislators and look into the issue. He also informed BJP legislator Basavaraj Bommai that the government would allocate funds to set up new medical college in Haveri district. He said it takes Rs 560 crore investment to set up new medical college and hospital in Haveri and the government had already identified 56 acres of land. It had ready been inspected by Medical Council of India and government will release funds on priority.