Several intellectuals, social activists and senior citizens along with some leaders of different political parties under the fold of the Kendrapada Zilla Medical College and Hospital Pratistha Milita Karjyanusthan Committee staged a demonstration in front of the district Collector’s office on Thursday demanding that the Chief Minister take steps for setting up a medical college and hospital (MCH) at Kendrapada district.
The agitators alleged that for the development of the State thousands of people of the district have provided their land for setting up of the Paradip-Daitary Expressway and Paradip-Haridashpur railway line. In return, they have borne the brunt of road accidents and pollution, they alleged.
As the Paradip has become the hub of industrialization, so the poisonous gas along with dishcharge of effluents from the industries have made the people of the district suffer from respiratory, skin and heart diseases, they told. In last 20 years , the ruling BJD under the leadership of Naveen Patnaik managed to increase the number of medical colleges in the State from 3 to 10.
But it is purely unfortunate that Kendrapada was handed out a raw deal with its long standing demand for a medical college and hospital being ignored, the agitators said, adding that in the last election, Naveenbabu had assured the voters to personally look after the development of the district.
But no steps have been taken in this regard. The agitators submitted a memorandum to the ADM for the Chief Minister.