Daya: FIR if Asilo privatised
HERALD CORRESPONDENT
PORVORIM, JAN 29
Cutting across party lines, politicians from the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday attacked the State government on its decision to privatise the district hospital at Mapusa.
Aldona legislator and senior Congress leader Dayanand Narvekar even went to the extent of suggesting that a police FIR (first information report) be filed against the Congress-led government for the “criminal waste of people’s money”.
Addressing a largely attended public meeting organized by the Goa Democratic Front (GDF) at Mapusa, Narvekar strongly opposed the government’s decision to privatise the district hospital at Mapusa.
“If the government does not change its decision, the GDF will intensify the agitation by holding meetings in other talukas also,” warned Narvekar.
Providing details of the district hospital, Narvekar said the hospital had been conceptualized to provide medical facilities free of cost to the people of North Goa.
“The foundation stone was laid in 2002 when Manohar Parriker was the chief minister and the machinery required for the project was purchased when I was the health minister in 2005.”
“On November 30, 2008, the Goa State Industrial Development Corporation (GSIDC) handed over the hospital to the government and on May 27, 2009, the Directorate of the Health services took possession of the hospital. But till date, the district hospital has not gone on full stream and this is a matter of shame for the government, said Narvekar.
He alleged that the government has been spending about Rs 2.7 lakh every month on maintenance of the hospital.
“Besides, the warranty of the super-speciality machinery worth Rs 25 lakh installed in the hospital has lapsed, but the government has not bothered to renew the warranty as yet,” he noted.
“The cost of this project including the cost of land works to around Rs 100 crores. An FIR can be filed against the government for this criminal waste of people’s money,” Narvekar observed.
He also took a dig at Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane, claiming that Rane had a penchant for privatising government projects.
“When Vishwajeet was chairman of the Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) some years back, he had given Mapusa Residency, Panjim Residency and Yatri Niwas at Miramar on a long lease for 21 years to private parties. Similarly, he may also have plans to give the Mapusa district hospital on lease for 21 years,” alleged Narvekar.
“This is a hidden agenda under the garb of public-private partnership (PPP). But we will not allow this to happen. This is people’s money and hence under no circumstances will I allow privatisation of the district hospital at Mapusa. People must get medical facilities free of cost,” thundered Narvekar.
The Aldona legislator also insisted that the government should introduce the Lokayukt Bill as early as possible to curb corrupt practices by politicians.
“Mining activities has destroyed fields, water resources and ecology of the State. Drugs are being freely sold by the drug mafia while crimes are increasing day by day and there is no law and order in the State. It is high time the government introduces the Lokayukt Bill to curb corrupt practices by politicians,” he said.
BJP leader and Siolim legislator Dayanand Mandrekar said he is totally against the PPP and assured that he would not allow privatization of the hospital at Mapusa at any cost.
“Vishwajeet Rane has mismanaged both his portfolios of agriculture and health. I will demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into the assets of the health minister at the forthcoming assembly session,” said Mandrekar.
NCP General Secretary Avinash Bhonsle accused the Congress government of failing on all fronts and said development of the State had come to a standstill due to internal bickering of ministers.
Mapusa Mayor Sudhir Khandolkar also spoke at the meeting.
Earlier, GDF President Prof Edward D’Lima welcomed the gathering and Shashikant Kandolker compered the programme.
