Bengaluru, March 12: The Karnataka Assembly discussed the urgent need for emergency medical facilities for workers at the Hatti Gold Mine in Raichur district. BJP MLA Mannappa D. Vajjala urged the government to establish a hospital in the area.
Vajjala, representing the Lingasugur constituency, highlighted that approximately 6,000 workers operate underground around the clock. He pointed out that in the event of a medical emergency, such as a heart attack, there is not a single hospital within a 100-kilometer radius.
He accused the company of providing hospital facilities only in Belagavi and Bengaluru, forcing workers to travel long distances for treatment. “In cases of heart attacks, workers must travel nearly 100 kilometers, and many lose their lives en route due to delays in treatment,” he stated.
Vajjala emphasized that the lack of medical facilities impacts not only the workers but also the surrounding communities. He recounted a recent incident where a Valmiki saint suffered a heart attack at the Hatti Gold Mine convention center. According to the MLA, there were neither doctors nor basic medications available at that time. The saint was first taken to Raichur and later transferred to Hyderabad for better treatment. “Fortunately, the saint’s life was saved after being taken to Hyderabad,” he added.
He further noted that Hatti Gold Mine generates around ₹1,000 crore in revenue annually and is the sole provider of gold in the country. He suggested that if the company allocated resources to build a hospital, the government would not need to incur additional expenses. “There is no shortage of funds. Thousands of crores are spent on tenders for drainage construction. Can’t a hospital be built for the workers?” he questioned.
In response, Minister for Medical Education, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood Sharan Prakash Patil stated that the government is working towards establishing super-specialty hospitals in every district. He mentioned that setting up a fully developed cardiac center at the taluk level may not be practical, as specialists like cardiologists might find it challenging to settle in smaller towns.
Patil explained, “Establishing a cardiac center requires specialists and infrastructure. It may not be sustainable to set up super-specialty hospitals at the taluk level, but a medical specialty hospital could be considered.” He assured that he would discuss the issue with the president of Hatti Gold Mine and explore the possibility of allocating funds to improve medical facilities in the region.
Vajjala reiterated the seriousness of the matter, calling for immediate action, especially since a significant number of workers are employed in mining activities in Lingasugur taluk. “This is a critical issue, and the government needs to issue a directive. While the situation may differ in other taluks, Hatti Gold Mine is here, and thousands of workers are employed,” he stressed.
In reply, Patil noted that Hatti Gold Mine operates independently and that he would engage with its management regarding the issue. During the discussion, Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader intervened, instructing the minister to ensure that high-end ambulance services equipped with emergency medical facilities are made available immediately at the mining site.
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