Srinagar, Dec 12: In response to the evolving threat of new viruses affecting the human population, the Government of India (GoI) is taking proactive measures by establishing the National Institute of Virology Unit for the North Zone in Jammu.
This institute, the first of its kind in northern India, will be constructed at Nagrota Jammu by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Formal approval has been granted by the Jammu and Kashmir government for the transfer of 41 kanal of land to the Union Health Ministry to facilitate the establishment of the virology institute in the Union Territory.
Commissioner Secretary Revenue, Piyush Singla has officially sanctioned the transfer of the state land without any cost.
“The approved land, measuring 41 kanal, 4 marla under Khasra No 454 in the village Jagti, Tehsil Nagrota, district Jammu, will be utilised for the establishment of ICMR-National Institute of Virology, North Zone Unit. This move aligns with Rule 310 of General Financial Rules, 2017,” he said.
The transfer of land for the project has been endorsed by the administrative council led by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, leading to the issuance of formal orders by the Revenue Department.
According to health officials, the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Jammu is poised to play a crucial role in addressing virus disease outbreaks through the application of epidemiological and diagnostic tools.
The institute would offer referral diagnostic services to individuals, communities, medical colleges, and research institutions.
The NIV, a laboratory under the ICMR, aims to strengthen pandemic research and provide essential diagnostic services for a range of diseases.
Originally planned for Chandigarh, the NIV was relocated to Jammu due to a land dispute, with the J&K administration approving the transfer of the designated land.
The NIV Jammu project is set to contribute significantly by offering post-graduate courses, training, and research in various diseases, including influenza, encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, Ebola, H1N1, and COVID-19.
“The government’s initiative to establish the National Institute of Virology in Jammu reflects a strategic move to enhance the country’s capabilities in responding to and researching infectious diseases,” said a senior Health and Medical Education Department official.