*Asiea gives status of Aug 2013 instead of Jan 2018
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 30: The Government today faced embarrassment in the Upper House after the Minister produced the old status report of the Super Specialty Hospital, Jammu instead of January 2018 and Chairman directed the Minister to come prepared in the House and also dropped the question and allowed half an hour discussion on the same subject shortly.
The issue was raised by the BJP member Ramesh Arora, who levelled serious allegations against the Minister Incharge Health and alleged that a totally wrong reply has been given by the Minister in the House. He also alleged that the Minister has tried to mislead the House over reply. The BJP Legislator maintained that he has asked for the current status report of the Super Specialty Hospital Jammu whereas, the Minister is providing status report of 31-8-2013 which is very surprising and unfortunate. Arora said it has been done deliberately to shield some culprits.
He also contested that out of three generators in SSH Jammu only one is functional while Minister is claiming that all the three are functional. Arora said they have taken the House and its members for granted. It amounts to contempt of the House. He demanded that question be deferred and minister be directed to come with factual and compete reply and current status report of SSH, Jammu.
Minister of State for Health and Medical Education, Asiea Naqash was responding in place of Minister for H&ME, Bali Bhagat. Arora also alleged that in the recent audit report of SSH, out of 315 items/ equipments purchased for SSH Jammu, 188 are installed while rest are missing. Their cost is running in crores. The Government must reply about the fate of the missing items and fix responsibility on the people responsible for it.
Earlier, the Minister of State for Health & ME, Asiea claimed that all the three generators installed in SSH Jammu are functional and only one is used on regular basis and two are used periodically as and when required. Regarding oxygen supply she said that an amount of Rs 9.92 lakh has been demanded under Non-Plan head for AMC/CMC of Oxygen Plant by Executive Engineer Mechanical, Hospital and Central Heating Division Jammu. It is temporarily restored. The plant is functional but still it needs complete servicing for which funds are required. At present the oxygen is provided to the patients through Oxygen Generating Plant backed by cylinders through manifold gas pipe lines on 24×7 basis. She also maintained that there was shortage of technical staff to maintain the same.
Replying to another question, she maintained that SSH, having six blocks, was constructed with the cost of Rs 135 crore. Rs 115 crore was Central share and Rs 20 crore State share. It is a part of Govt Medical College Jammu under PMSSY project.
To a yet another question, the minister admitted that out of five lifts installed in the SSH, only two are functional. These lifts require repair and additional funds for maintenance. The issue will be taken up with the concerned firm.
The Chairman, who was also not satisfied with the reply, asked Minister to come prepared. He deferred the question and accepted the plea of member to hold half an hour discussion in the House in coming days on this subject.
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