Early Times Report
Jammu, June 26: The Department of Health and Medical Education has allegedly procured medical equipment and other items worth Rs 3.5 crore, which were not authorised by the District Disaster Management Authority during floods in the State.
Sources told Early Times that District Disaster Management Authority, Srinagar had authorised Health and Medical Education Department to purchase of 24 items of machinery and equipment at a cost of Rs 8 crore to make the Government Medical College Srinagar and associated hospitals functional.
"Around 32 items valuing Rs 3.5 crore which were not damaged in floods and not approved by the District Management Authority were also procured during 2014 to 2015 by the Health and Medical Education Department in total of violation of guidelines," they said.
Moreover, Directorate Health Services Kashmir, without obtaining the sanction of the Disaster Management Authority, as required under the Disaster Management Act, submitted a list of 17 items of machinery and equipment as damaged in floods to the Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, they informed.
"Shockingly, seven items procured by the Department valuing Rs 70 lakh were not included in the list submitted to the Commissioner Secretary of the Department which indicated that these items were not damaged due to floods," they said adding that funds amounting to Rs 8 crore was spent on purchase of ineligible items/ medical equipments which were not related to flood. Moreover, there was no record of disbursement/utilization of items valuing Rs 14 lakh procured for flood related activities and useful life of bio-manure valuing Rs 15 lakh was expired in September 2015. |
