Govt wants Nalco to set up medical college

Even as the Central public sector undertakings NTPC and MCL have evinced interest to set up medical college and hospitals in Odisha, the State Government is keen on roping in Nalco for a similar project.

The Government would like the aluminium major to set up the medical college in Koraput district. The Health Department has made the first move with Secretary Pradipta Mohapatra writing to Nalco CMD BL Bagra and inviting him to submit a proposal on the project at a meeting, to be convened by Health Minister Prasanna Acharya, on July 5.

The insistence of the Government stems from the fact that Nalco’s almost entire mining operations are based in Koraput district. It should venture into setting up the medical college and hospital as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) to provide proper and advanced medical facilities and treatment services to the populace of the backward region.Mohapatra said all support would be extended to the company for setting up the medical college.

Apart from provisioning of land for the project, the Koraput District Headquarters Hospital has been proposed by the Government to be attached to the  medical college.Power major NTPC has agreed to set up a medical college in Sundargarh district where it is establishing a 1,600-MW super thermal power project (STPP). The power project would come up at Darlipali in the district. The medical college would be accompanied by a 400-bed hospital initially. The bed strength will be gradually increased to 500. Work on the project would be initiated soon, Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had hinted at recently.

The MCL has also agreed to establish a medical college in Angul district where its mining operations are concentrated.