Bhubaneswar, March 28: The Centre's reported move to shift the proposed extension centre of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Balasore to the outskirts of the capital city triggered protests inside and outside the Assembly today.

During Union health minister J.P. Nadda's visit to the institute on Saturday, it was reportedly decided that the proposed extension centre would not be set up in Balasore. The Telegraph had also reported the move.

The decision triggered a protest by legislators from Balasore district in the Assembly, forcing Speaker Niranjan Pujari to direct health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak to make a statement.

The UPA government had sanctioned a 300-bed super-specialty hospital-cum-research centre in Balasore, apart from a medical college with a proposed investment of around Rs 1,000 crore. Later, it was decided that an extension centre of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar would also be set up. The state government has already allocated land for the project and funds have also been released. The project was sanctioned at the initiative of the then Union minister, Srikant Jena, who represented Balasore in the Lok Sabha.

Commenting on the Centre's reported move to shift the AIIMS extension centre, Jena told The Telegraph: "If it's true, it's very dangerous."

He said the proposed centre aimed to cater to the needs of the patients of not only north Odisha, but also parts of Bengal. "The move to shift the centre will deprive them of better health care facilities," said the former MP.

Raising the issue in the Assembly today, BJD chief whip and Bhograi MLA Ananta Das said the project was sanctioned by the UPA government and the state government had allocated 30 acres worth around Rs 100 crore. "It will be unfortunate if the proposed centre is shifted from Balasore," said Das.

He was supported by Balasore city MLA Jiban Paradip Dash, Aswini Patra, his counterparts from Jaleswar, Nityananda Sahoo from Basta and Parshuram Dhada from Soro. They said the notification for the project was issued by the Centre and the state government had extended all kinds of logistic support. "If the project is shifted from Balasore, it will be a great injustice to the region and the people will revolt," threatened the legislators from the district.

In Balasore, people cutting across various walks of life strongly opposed the Centre's reported move and vowed to fight tooth and nail to keep the centre in the city. Several civil society organisations have threatened to hit the streets on the issue.

Social activist Archana Nandi said: "We will not let the project go from Balasore."

Former local MLA Arun Dey said: "It is a betrayal of the region's people. Most likely, the decision has been taken due to political reasons."

BJD's Balasore MP R.K. Jena said he would talk to Nadda and urge him to reconsider the decision.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY SIBDAS KUNDU IN BALASORE