SRINAGAR: Admitting that Rs 1.53 crore were diverted to other heads by Government Medical College Hospital Jammu, Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat on Tuesday said a high level committee is being constituted within next two days to inquire into the financial mismanagement.
The Minister said that based on a communication received from Deputy Director Planning, GMC, an enquiry committee had beern earlier framed, to examine and physically verify as to whether the payment released for works executed actually existed on ground.
Bali further said while report was yet to be received by the panel, a members of the committee, Deputy Director Planning GMC Jammu was relieved by Principal Medical College Jammu to join Planning Department and the Assistant Director Planning GMC Jammu was transferred in normal course by the Department.
In the Legislative Assembly, In response to the issue raised by some members including Choudhary Mohammed Akram, G M Saroori, Vikar Rasool, Deldan Namgial, Asgar Ali Karbalai and Gulzar Ahmad Wani, the minister said that Principal Medical College Jammu had observed a saving of Rs 1.73 crore at the close of the financial year under different heads.
He said that with a view to avoid lapsing of funds available under the heads of upgradation of Pathology Department, construction of 20 bedded boys and girls hostel at Rural Training Centre RS Pura, Construction of additional examination hall and establishment of eye bank, amounting to Rs 1.73 crore in total, the Principal GMC Jammu proposed re-appropriation of the said funds primarily towards the clearance of work done liabilities so that the available amount can be suitably utilized.
He said the said proposal was taken up with Planning, Development and Monitoring Department for its concurrence. He said Planning Development and Monitoring Department approved re-appropriation of only Rs 1.53 crore instead of rupees 1.73 crore.
Sources said that this Rs 1.73 crore were not saving, as is being made out. This amount was demanded by GMC Principal from the government for medicines and upgradation of medical equipments before the scheduled MCI inspection. “When there was no such plan. This amount could not be utilized and ultimately it was transferred to Mechanical Division of GMC.
Deputy Director Planning, M L Bhagat, who raised the query at that time, was relieved by the Principal GMC for obvious reasons.
Health Minister Bali Bhagat has admitted in his reply in the Assembly that DD Planning was relieved.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Bali Bhagat while talking to STATE TIMES said “Though the GMC Principal wanted to transfer Rs 1.73 crore yet he managed to divert only Rs 1.53 crore to Mechanical Division. We will conduct thorough inquiry to ascertain the facts. A high level committee will be constituted within two days to get this matter probed.”