CAG's Report on Health Services in Delhi Assembly Presented
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Synopsis
The CAG report on Delhi's health services, detailing irregularities during the AAP government's tenure, was presented in the Assembly, revealing significant financial mismanagement and project delays.
Key Takeaways
- The CAG report highlights major issues in the health services managed by the AAP government.
- The report specifically criticizes the Mohalla Clinics and government hospitals.
- BJP legislators accused the AAP government of corruption and inefficiency.
- Cost overruns and mismanagement of Covid funds were major points of contention.
- The report shows a lack of infrastructure development in 11 years.
New Delhi, Feb 28 (NationPress) The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report concerning health services in the national capital, during the previous AAP government's administration, was presented in the Delhi Assembly on Friday.
This report from the central government auditor focuses on the health department’s financial dealings under the AAP regime and is part of numerous reports that the BJP government has committed to unveil in the House to reveal corruption associated with the former administration.
Within the CAG report, which was presented on Friday, the Mohalla Clinics, a signature initiative of the Kejriwal administration, along with government hospitals, faced harsh criticism for significant irregularities, inefficiencies, inflated prices, and underutilization of funds.
Several BJP legislators addressed the Assembly regarding the CAG report, launching attacks on the former AAP government, accusing it of fostering corruption and malpractice within health sectors.
BJP MLA Harish Khurana condemned the AAP government over cost overruns and inflated pricing for various projects due to delays.
He remarked that the CAG report distinctly outlines the series of irregularities that transpired during the AAP administration.
“In 11 years of governance, they constructed only three hospitals and caused significant financial losses to the exchequer. Over 11 years, merely three hospitals were either constructed or expanded. The Indira Gandhi Hospital experienced a five-year delay, resulting in a cost increase of Rs 314 crore. Similarly, the Burari Hospital saw a cost escalation of approximately Rs 41 crore,” Khurana stated.
“In total, an additional expenditure of Rs 382 crore was incurred for the construction of these three hospitals,” he emphasized.
“The funds allocated by the Centre to the state government for combating the Covid pandemic were also poorly managed. They blamed the Centre for fund shortages, but the facts indicate that the state government was responsible for the mismanagement,” said Khurana, son of former Delhi CM Madan Lal Khurana.
The CAG report underscores the ‘dire situation’ of the Mohalla Clinics, which were highly praised when initiated under the leadership of former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Earlier in the day, AAP leaders demonstrated outside the Assembly in response to the suspension of 21 lawmakers this week. Former Chief Minister Atishi, now the Leader of Opposition, also sent a letter to Speaker Vijender Gupta to highlight the ‘serious blow to democratic values’.
