PARADIP: A strong sense of resentment is brewing among residents of the port town over delay in establishment of a super speciality hospital which was promised by Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari three years back. During his visit to Paradip Port to inaugurate several projects in July 2015, Gadkari had announced that a super speciality hospital will be set up in the town while a medical college was also under consideration. He had urged the State Government to provide land for the project and said people in and around the port town would get better healthcare facilities once the medical college and hospital comes up in the area.
After the Union Minister’s announcement, local MP and MLA had suggested that if the Centre provides 25 per cent of the total project cost, the rest amount would be spent from funds of corporate sectors and the State Government. However, three years have passed but work on the project is yet to start.Trade union leader Sudhakar Mantry said hundreds of people are suffering from different diseases like cancer and heart-related ailments due to pollution by the industries operating in the port town.
They have been deprived of better healthcare facilities in absence of a super specialty hospital. It is unfortunate that Gadkari’s commitment is yet to be fulfilled even after three years while locals continue to suffer, Mantry said.On the other hand, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced to set up multi-specialty hospitals in 20 districts but Jagatsinghpur was excluded from the list. The CM’s announcement was met with strong resentment from the people of the district.Alleging constant neglect by both the Centre and State Government, locals have vowed to intensify protest against the apathy towards the district.