Keonjhar: A long-standing demand of the people of this district was fulfilled Saturday as Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced setting up of a medical college here at an investment of Rs 500 crore.
Patnaik made this announcement at a public meeting here. The proposed medical college at Keonjhar, the fourth in the state, would be developed by the state government, he said.
Earlier, the government had set up three medical college and hospitals at Cuttack, Berhampur and Burla.
“The proposed medical college at Keonjhar will be helpful for the people, particularly tribal inhabitants of the district,” Patnaik said, adding the mineral rich district has made a significant contribution towards the growth of Orissa. The Chief Minister also said a new flyover will be built at Joda to ease traffic.
Besides, he reiterated that more model schools will be set up in the district to provide quality education to children.
Speaking on the occasion, health minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak said the Chief Minister’s announcement has fulfilled the long-standing demand of the people of Keonjhar. Panchayati raj minister Arun Kumar Sahoo, rural development minister Badrinarayan Patra, collector N Tirumala Nayak among others attended the meeting.
During his day-long tour to Keonjhar, Patnaik also distributed bonus among construction workers and Kendu leaf-pluckers. The state government has earmarked Rs 500 crore for construction of 5,000 pucca houses for construction workers.
The Chief Minister also inaugurated a scheme for construction of pucca houses for people affected by mining activities in Keonjhar district and distributed work orders for construction of 13,500 such houses.
Besides, Patnaik also inaugurated and the laid foundation stones for 25 projects worth Rs 496 crore.
Among the inaugurated projects were 13 hostels for ST students at a cost of Rs 17.82 crore, Joda Kalyan Mandap at a cost of Rs 4 crore and Champua water supply project at a cost of Rs 5.5 crore. PNN
