Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved a proposal to construct a new medical college in Kandhamal and a 650-bedded Teaching Hospital for the existing medical college in Koraput. The Cabinet also gave nod for the construction of two mega drinking water projects in Bargarh district.
The State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik decided to set up two health institutes at a cost of Rs 680 Crore.
"The hospitals will give a boost to medical education and cater to healthcare needs of the people in the region, "Patnaik stated in a tweet.
The proposed medical college at Phulbani (Kandhamal) will have 100 seats. With an aim to create qualified doctors and provide super specialty health care in the tribal dominated regions, the government has decided set up the health institutes.
The construction of both the projects is estimated to be completed within three years.
Similarly, the Cabinet also has cleared another proposal to construct two rural piped water supply projects worth Rs 724 Cr for Bargarh under BASUDHA scheme.
The projects which will be completed in two years will benefit 515 villages of Barpali, Bheden, Attabira, Bijepur, Gaiselet and Bargarh blocks in the district.
One project for Bheden and Barpali block, which will cost Rs 215.31 crore is expected to be completed in two years. It will supply safe drinking water to 166 villagers in the blocks.
Likewise, another project worth Rs 508.75 crore will cater to the needs of safe drinking water of 349 villages under five blocks-Attabira, Barpali, Bijepur, Gaiselet and Bargarh blocks. It will also take two years for completion.
Notably, there was a long standing demand of the residents from these blocks in the district for safe drinking water project.