15 ambulances provided by former Dy Chairman ‘missing’

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 25: After the spurious drugs scandal, a yet another scam came to fore today after former Dy Chairman of the State Legislative Council Arvinder Singh (Micky) made startling disclosures before the media that fifteen ambulances which he provided during his tenure to various hospitals in Jammu regions, were ‘mysteriously missing’.
Addressing a press conference here today, Mr Singh alleged that he provided funds for the purchase of 15 ambulances out of his Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to the Directorate of Health Services Jammu during his tenure as legislator. The ambulances were meant for CHC Chenani, Panjawati hospital in Kishtwar, Dudu Basantgarh, Nowshera, Sunderbani, PHC Budhan in Mahore, PHE Chhatroo, DH Ramban, PHC Chambalbas ( Banihal), Batote, Billawar, PHC Guntha in Doda, PHC Sarthal in Kishtwar and PHC Bharath in Doda.
Mr Singh, a senior Congress leader further alleged that after verification at his own level he found that ambulances were not there while funds stood released by the DDC for the purpose. The Ambulances were also said to have purchased but not even a single was there in the hospitals for which the funds out of his CDF were sanctioned and kept at the disposal of Director Health.
The former Dy Chairman alleged that he wrote to Director Health Jammu to state the clear position about the funds and location of the ambulances but she never intimated him about their fate. Mr Singh pointed out that he provided funds for definite purpose and the funds as per DDC were released before ending March 2012 but the ambulances were missing. He further alleged that he provided Rs 82 lakhs for purchase of ventilators and dialysis machines to Health Department for Udhampur, Gandhinagar, Sarwal and Rajouri hospitals and GMC Jammu, but the Health Department never informed about the utilization of the funds while Principal Medical College Jammu had informed him regarding utilization of Rs 20 lakh for the purpose. He alleged that it again seems to be yet another scandal and the Chief Minister should order high level inquiry into the matter or hand over the case to the Crime Branch of State police.
Meanwhile, Director Health Services Jammu Dr Madhu Khullar in a statement today has said that 15 Maruti Omni Ambulances purchased out of CDF of Arvinder Singh (Ex-Dy Chairman), through Director State Motor Garages stand distributed in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Jammu, Udhampur and Samba districts. She also gave chasis numbers of these vehicles.

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