Now Reading: Gujarat hospital billed Rs 50.43 lakh for missing tank, 2 engineers suspended
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Gujarat hospital billed Rs 50.43 lakh for missing tank, 2 engineers suspended
Gujarat hospital billed Rs 50.43 lakh for missing tank, 2 engineers suspended
Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansaria conducted a surprise inspection at a government hospital in Bhavnagar and found that an underground water tank approved for the facility had not been built. Despite the tank being missing, a bill of Rs 50.43 lakh was submitted to the health department's head office for approval.
Two engineers, Mehul Dave and N V Kalia, have been ordered to face suspension and disciplinary proceedings. A police complaint has also been ordered against them for alleged dereliction of duty. The health department has been instructed to take strict action against Surat-based contractor Dharmanandan Construction, including starting the process to blacklist the company.
Pansaria said negligence, mismanagement or irregularities in the use of public funds for healthcare projects would not be tolerated. He stressed that quality, transparency and accountability in government health infrastructure projects remain priorities for the state government.
Indian Opinion Analysis
An underground water tank of 2.55 lakh litres is a critical piece of infrastructure for any hospital, affecting sanitation, surgery and patient care. The fact that a bill was processed for work not done points to a breakdown in multiple layers of oversight within the Gujarat health department's Project Implementation Unit. The minister's swift action, ordering suspension, a police complaint and contractor blacklisting, signals a push to enforce accountability. The next step is the police investigation into the engineers and the contractor, which could lead to criminal charges and recovery of the Rs 50.43 lakh.
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
