From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, May 12: An abandoned ESI hospital building at Shahabad in Kalaburagi district is being refurbished and converted into a Covid Care Centre.

Mines and geology minister Murugesh Nirani has instructed the Kalaburagi deputy commissioner VV Jyotsna and other senior officials to inspect the building and take immediate steps to convert it into Covid Care Centre.

The Employees State Insurance (ESI) hospital at Shahabad in Kalaburagi was constructed in the year 1994 to cater to the medical needs of over 7,500 labourers who were working in various cement factories and other industries.

The hospital building which was constructed on four-acre land was closed in the year 2004 as most of the factories and industries moved out of Shahabad.

The building has since been unused and turned into a ramshackle structure. The whole premise is filled with weeds, dry grass, plants, dust and other waste.

Following the instructions from minister Nirani to Kalaburagi deputy commissioner VV Jyotsna, senior officials including Shahabad tahsildar Suresh Varma, Shahabad Municipal Corporation’s commissioner K Gurulingappa and officials from health and revenue departments inspected the site.

The authorities immediately started the work to refurbish the 30-room hospital building. The wall, floor and ceiling of the building which are in deplorable condition are being renovated with proper electricity and water supply connection.

Minister Nirani has ordered officials to provide all medical facilities to treat Covid-19 patients including oxygenated beds, ventilators, oxygen, pantry, drinking water and toilets.

He wanted the hospital to possess all modern facilities to provide better treatment and instructed the officials to finish the work on a war footing.