Nadda in a letter to Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday stated that his Ministry has approved two schemes of the Odisha Government for establishment of the two new Medical Colleges with 100 seats each. The new medical colleges - Government Medical College, Balasore and Government Medical College, Bolangir - will come up under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme,' 'Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing District/Referral Hospitals.'
Besides, the Ministry has also approved the conditional permission issued to Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College & Hospital in Baripada for the academic year 2017-18 and also approved the renewal permission for admission of 2nd batch to the 100 MBBS seats at the college for the academic year 2018-19, added Nadda.
He further informed that necessary permission letters will be issued by the Ministry separately.
While inaugurating the fourth government medical college of the State, Patnaik said, "With this medical College, a long-cherished dream has become a reality. Now, the number of MBBS seats in the State has gone up to 850. We expect to add 200 more seats to cross the 1000 mark."
With the launch of the 100-seat medical institute, classes of the first batch of MBBS students have also started. According to sources, construction of class rooms, laboratories, hostels and office rooms has been completed.
The college has been built at a cost of Rs 192 crore and will cater to the healthcare requirements of the people of undivided Koraput district including Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and adjoining areas in the region.
The institute would also play a major role in addressing the issue of doctor shortage in the State.
Besides, Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College is scheduled to be inaugurated at Baripada on September 6. Two more medical colleges in Balasore and Bolangir are in the pipeline and will become operational from next year, Health Minister Pratap Jena informed.
The proposed medical college was a long standing demand of locals in the district.
The 100-seat medial college project, entailing investment of Rs 314 crore in tribal-dominated mineral-rich district, has been assigned to Tata Projects for building construction, a release from the Chief Minister's Office said.
Reports from the area said the overloaded mini bus went out of the driver's control and dropped into a 200-feet deep gorge.
"10 out of the 16 injured passengers have been airlifted for treatment at the Government Medical College hospital in Jammu city," police said.
A massive rescue operation has been started by the local administration with help from the army and civilians.