The ready-to-use Mahanadi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MIMSAR) at Talcher, built at a cost of around Rs 500 crore under the Corporate Social Responsibly (CSR) scheme of the Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), is yet to function even after a lapse of seven long years.
Admitting about the delay, MCL CMD PK Sinha told a Press conference here on Friday that very soon the company would float tender to appoint an ‘operator’ to manage the medical college. Sinha said the MCL has spent Rs 193 crore under CSR in 2020-21 to build the medical college.
Even though the State Government is facing serious challenge in providing healthcare facilities to the public, the MIMSAR, which started in 2014, is yet to be made functional due to confusion over the management of the college. Meanwhile, the delay has triggered widespread resentment among people.
Answering the media regarding opposition by the local people to land acquisition, rehabilitation and employment issues of the affected, Sinha told, “We have tried to overcome these issues with the help of the State Government.” The CMD elaborated details about the achievements of MCL. They informed that the MCL has achieved highest ever production of 148.01 MMT and highest-ever coal dispatch of 146 MT during 2020-21.
The MCL has set up two Covid hospitals at Talcher and Bhubaneswar. The company is implementing nine First Mile connectivity projects to provide pollution-free rake loading system at a cost of Rs 3,600 crore.