In a letter to the Chief Minister, Sarangi said, “The DRDO, Ministry of Defence, Government of India has been contributing significantly to augment the national efforts to fight COVID surge by way of establishing Covid Hospitals in several parts of the country.”
“Balasore, with its famed Integrated Test Range (ITR) is a major hub of DRDO and over the years, it has acquired a seamless interface with the civilian population of the area. During the hours of need, the DRDO has always stood for the well-being of the people of Balasore,” he added.
“Balasore has been witnessing significant rise in COVID cases during the current wave and its geographical location as a border district has contributed to its growing vulnerabilities. As such, due to absence of critical COVID care facility at Balasore, the patients are being taken to Bhubaneswar/ Cuttack, thus putting further pressure on the existing COVID care facility,” his letter reads.
“I request your good self to kindly have a proposal sent from the State Government to the Ministry of Defence with the recommendation to set up a COVID care Hospital with Oxygen beds and ICU beds by DRDO at Balasore in larger public interest,” he concluded.