Dhinkia village under the proposed Posco steel project site. Telegraph picture

Paradip, June 16: Health facilities here and the surrounding areas have been hit due to the ongoing land acquisition drive for the 12-million-tonne Posco steel project as health officials and doctors have been drafted for the work.

“We have nothing to do with the land acquisition. But, the process has taken a toll on the government-run health service network,” said a health officer.

With fear of confrontation and violence looming large in the wake of resistance, the administrative agencies here were forced to constitute emergency medical teams and deployed them in and around the steel project area.

However, the deployment of health personnel has exerted additional burden on the severely understaffed health service network.

“As directed by the district collector and the superintendent of police, emergency medical teams and ambulances are being pressed into service at the spot.

‘Moreover, emergency service was being kept ready with more doctors being deputed at the government-run Balitutha hospital, located on the main entry route of the project. It has put a burden on us, as nearly 50 per cent of the sanctioned strength of doctors are lying vacant in Jagatsinghpur district,” said Rabindra Kumar Das, chief district medical officer, Jagatsinghpur.

Of the 110 sanctioned posts of doctors, as many as 57 posts are lying vacant. Many health centres functioned without doctors during the period of land acquisition.

The medical teams dispatched to the project area comprised doctors, pharmacists and attendants. The teams were also equipped with medical equipment and first aid tools. In Balitutha community health centre on the project’s outskirts, specialised treatment had been arranged with orthopaedics deputed to look after the injured, said health officials.

“Health service is no doubt being affected by the backlog of vacancies. The district headquarters hospital alone accounts for 11 vacancies of the 24 sanctioned posts. Majority of the specialists’ posts is lying vacant in the district’s premier government-run hospital. Thus deployment of medical units at the Posco project area was an additional burden on us,” said Das.

“The deployment of medical units in the project area was a precautionary step. We did not intend to use force to acquire land,” said Saroj Kanta Choudhury, additional district magistrate, Paradip.

“The Orissa government is shouting from the rooftops that land acquisition process is free from the use of force. But the ground reality speaks altogether a different story. The deployment of ambulances, doctors and paramedical staff in the project area point that the government is intent on use of violence.

“The aggressive and belligerent intention of the government to use force on unarmed people is crystal clear from the deployment of medical teams in the villages,” said Abhaya Sahu, president of the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samity, an outfit on the forefront of anti-land displacement movement for the past five years.