State to get new medical college, two ITIs

"The state government had been asking for establishment of a hospital in Sundergarh district. But the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) would set up a medical college with 400 bed capacity there," he told reporters after meeting Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

Noting that tribals of Sundergarh district should avail quality health services, he said capacity of the proposed medical college could go up in coming days. "Now the work for the medical college will begin," he said.

Two Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), one each at Angul and Sundergarh would be established for imparting vocational training to local youths. "As a power hub in coming up in the state, there is requirement of a large number of skilled manpower here," he said.

The union power minister, however, informed chief minister Patnaik that it would not be possible on part of the Centre to allocate additional 700 MW of electricity from Ultra Mega Power Project at Bedabahal. The state was presently entitled to get 1300 MW of power from the UMPP at Talcher. "Since the Centre has signed power purchase agreement with other states, it will not be possible to allocate additional 700 MW for Odisha," he said, adding that the state would receive 2,000 MW power each from the two proposed UMPPs.

Describing his discussion with the chief minister as "very good," Shinde said that the dispute over the price fixation for the proposed Super Thermal Power Station at Gajamara in Dhenkanal district had been solved. "Both of us had agreed that the issue will now be solved at the regulatory commission," he said.

Noting that Rs 60,000 crore would be invested in the power sector in coming days, Sindhe said state would soon emerge as a power hub.