National energy major NTPC on Friday cemented its commitment for establishing a medical college and hospital at Sundargarh by signing an MoU with the State Government.
The MoU was signed by Health Secretary PK Mohapatra and NTPC Director (HR) UP Pani in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Health Minister Damodar Rout and CMD of NTPC Arup Roy Choudhury.
The college will have 100 MBBS seats along with a 400-bed hospital. The State Government would provide 20 acre land for the purpose.
Sundargarh district administration has already identified the land close to the National Highway.
The company would invest around `350 crore with the target of completing the project by 2016 so as to enable admission of students from 2016-17 academic session.
While commending NTPC to have come forward to set up the MCH in the tribal district, the Chief Minister said it would not only cater to the health needs of the people of the region but also leverage efforts to overcome the problem of shortage of doctors.
As many as 10 seats in the Sundargarh MCH will be reserved for qualified candidates of the project displaced families and NTPC employees’ families, the Health Minister said.
The national PSU has projected an investment of `1.5 lakh crore in all projects during the 12th Plan.
The two new projects in Gajamara and Darlipalli with an envisaged 3200 MW capacity addition have made significant headway.
Three coal blocks in Dulanga, Chandabila and Kudanali Labori have been allotted to NTPC as linked mines and the company will aggressively bid for Bedabahal UMPP, CMD AR Choudhury told mediapersons.
Stating that the operational 3,460 MW capacity at TSTPS and TTPS plants at Kaniha and Talcher respectively have contributed to the power sector, Choudhury stressed the PSU’s commitment to overall development of the State.
NTPC has extended its helping hand in the rehabilitation and restoration works in the Phailin affected districts and contributed `10 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
It has also signed an MoU for light and sound system installation at Grand Road in Puri at a cost of `2.5 crore, he added.