ROURKELA: A pathetic attitude of the SAIL and the Ministries of Steel and Health seems to have led to inordinate delay in upgradation of RSP-run Ispat General Hospital (IGH) at Rourkela.After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to convert the IGH into a super speciality hospital and medical college (SSHMC) 38 months ago, Congress president Rahul Gandhi continues to embarrass the PM over the delay on social media.
In fact, fund is a problem. After SAIL provided a paltry Rs 10 crore, Union Steel Minister Birendra Singh on June 12 had laid the foundation stone for super speciality block of the Burns and Plastic Surgery department. There is no sight of the medical college.
‘Express’ on April 28 had reported that the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in February this year made a U-turn asking the State Government to share 40 per cent cost. The first phase project for development of super speciality facilities of four departments requires Rs 136 crore. In August 2017, the PMO had said Rs 200 crore has been sanctioned from Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY). But, not a single penny has been released due to apathy of the Union Health Ministry.
Sources pointing out to the ‘apathy’ of SAIL said after committing twice, former Chairman C S Verma, before his retirement in June 2015, had kept quiet. Then Steel Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had outrightly rejected the possibility of the project in February 2015 and fearing backlash, immediately said SAIL may provide fund for it. New SAIL Chairman P K Singh from December 2015 and new Steel Minister Birendra Singh from July 2016 too had allowed SAIL to continue with its policy of dilly-dallying and time killing. SAIL had once tried to find out private partner and then wanted tie-up with ESIC for the project.
RSP Executives’ Association (RSPEA) president Bimal Bisi said with its medical infrastructure, the IGH could have been converted into SSHMC with less than Rs 400 crore.RSP sources said SAIL has no fund for IGH and pointed out to negative remarks of CAG stating that modernisation and upgradation projects of RSP jumped from about Rs 12,000 crore to Rs 14,000 crore. SAIL had also acquired the defunct Jagdishpur Steel unit at above Rs 400 crore under RSP’s head and spent another Rs 50 crore without any gain, they said.
Costly affair
In August 2017, the PMO had said `200 crore has been sanctioned from PMSSY
Not a single penny has been released due to callousness of the Union Health Ministry
After SAIL provided a paltry `10 crore, the Union Steel Minister on June 12 had laid foundation stone for super speciality block of Burns and Plastic Surgery dept