The State Government is committed to the integrated development of Dakshina Kannada district, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said on Monday.

He was speaking at the ground breaking  ceremony of the Government Lady Goschen Hospital building,  being constructed by Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL)-ONGC group company in Mangalore on Monday.

This block will be a boon to women of the region. The State government is ready to provide facilities to this hospital for its further development, he said and disclosed that it will consider adding 240 more beds in the 260-bed hospital.

He released the handout of “Vajpayee Arogyashree,” a programme to provide super speciality treatment to patients below poverty line. "Most of the time,  poor are unable to get treatment for their ailments as they cannot afford it. Under this programme, they get treatment for heart, cancer, neurological problems, kidney problem, burns, accidents and specialised treatment for new borns," he said.

ONGC CMD Sudhir Vasudeva said that the 162-year-old Lady Goschen Hospital was in dire need of expansion due to the sharp increase in patients and delivery cases (of about 500 to 600 every month). MRPL is glad to take up the project as it will benefit women. He also added that the new block should be named as 'Lady-Goschen ONGC-MRPL 10th Anniversary Block'.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dr Veerappa Moily said one should work at the grassroots level to build a community. There is a need to upgrade facilities and hence bring the new born and infant deaths to zero. The new block construction should be completed without any delay, he stressed.

The new block

Under MRPL-ONGC Corporate Social Responsibility Programme 'Samrakshan,' Lady Goschen will get a brand new 12,000 sq ft, five-floor building in the next three years at a cost of Rs 21.70 crore.

M/s KNY Associates, New Delhi, are architects while M/s Krishna Shelters PVT Ltd, Bangalore, are the builders.

As per the schedules drawn by the architect, this project will take about 18 to 24 months for completion.  The site is ready for construction work. 

The ground floor will have Reception, Gynecology - OPD, OBG - OPD, Diagnostic Lab, HIV/ICTC Lab, CT Scan, Radiology and Pharmacy.

Major OT, Major Labour Theater, Eclampsia, Septic Labour Theater, ICU, General Ward, Pre - Operative Ward, Operation Ward, Post-Operative Ward, NICU Ward, General Ward, Medical Supply office are some of the departments and facilities the hospital will have.

As per the records of Lady Goschen Hospital about 75 per cent patients belong to below poverty line category. Over 6,000 delivery cases are admitted in a year.  Nearly 75,000 patients are admitted as in patients and nearly 1.5 lakh patients are treated as out patients in a year.  The patients come from all parts of Karnataka and bordering parts of Kerala. 

Dakshina Kannada District Red Cross Society distributed a wheelchair to a beneficiary on the occasion.

Wenlock development

The Chief Minister also inaugurated Rs five-crore development work at the Wenlock District Hospital.

The work includes construction of jail ward, expanding ICU and dialysis unit, renovation of kitchen and upgradation of laundry services, construction of OT complex, renovation of OPD complex and installation of liquid waste treatment plant.

Niddodi project only after consultation

Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has said that Niddodi ultra mega power project will be initiated only after taking people into confidence.

Speaking to presspersons, he said that only initial inspection has been carried out in the region for the proposed project.

The state is reeling under acute shortage of power owing to deficit rainfall. Measures will be taken to ensure that there was no major crisis. The results of ULB polls will not have any impact on the Assembly elections.