CM Naveen Patnaik asks Mahanadi Coalfield Limited to solve problem of displaced people in 3 months

BHUBANESWAR: Expressing displeasure over delay in construction for the proposed medical college project by NTPC in Sundergarh district, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today asked Mahanadi Coalfield Limited to solve problems of people displaced by its projects within three months.

"The chief minister expressed concern over delay in beginning of the work for the proposed medical college hospital project in Sundergarh. The project was scheduled to be completed by 2016," a CMO release said.

Official sources said Patnaik issued direction to MCL, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited while reviewing the CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities of different central public sector undertakings operating in Odisha.

The chief minister's instruction to the MCL came after local people in Talcher coalfield area frequently staged agitations against the CPSU accusing it of neglecting the local people affected by its different projects.

"Patnaik has asked the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) to hold discussion with district collectors on the problems of the local people. He also asked the RDC to regularly review CSR activities of MCL in order to win confidence of the agitating people in Talcher area," an official said.

Patnaik said CSR activities are significant for the ongoing industrialisation process in the state and asked MCL to highlight in its official website welfare activities undertaken by it, a release issued by the chief minister's office said.

The chief minister also asked the chief secretary to review the CRS activities of different CPSUs in every fortnight.

Earlier, NTPC had signed a MoU with the state government to set up a medical college hospital near Sundargarh town at a cost of Rs 350 crore.