Construction works for five proposed Government medical colleges are underway and teaching would start in the first phase of their commencement, informed Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak in the Assembly on Friday.
In response to a question of Congress MlA Naba Kishore Das, the Minister stated that the proposed medical colleges will come up at Koraput, Balangir, Puri, Baleswar and Baripada at estimated costs of Rs 478 crore, Rs 491 crore, Rs 491 crore, Rs 503 crore and Rs 485 crore, respectively. Estimates have been sent to the Union government for sanction of funds.
The Union Government and the State Government has so far provided Rs 170 crore and Rs 101 crore for these proposed medical colleges. Of the available amount, while Rs 37 crore has been spent for Baleswar medical college, Rs 40 crore for Bariapada, Rs 51 crore for Balaingir, Rs 39 crore for Koraput and Rs 15 crore has been spent for Puri medical college.
Teaching and nonteaching posts have already been created for the five medical colleges and preparations are on to complete the related works, said the Minister.
Nayak too informed that two more Government colleges, one at Kalahandi and another at Keonjhar, will be set up. Besides, two medical colleges are going to be operational on behalf of the Central PSUs, MCl and NTPC with support of the State Government, at Talcher and Sundargrh respectively, the Minister said.