PANJIM: Non-completion of the construction of the 800 bed District Hospital at Margao has resulted in idle investment of Rs 68.76 crore in the last nine years; the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report 2014-15 states.
CAG observed that scope of the work, which was started in 2008, was changed three times between 2007 and 2012. It was in June 2006, that the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) decided to construct a 400-bed hospital at Margao.
“Firstly, 100 beds were sought to be added on public private partnership (PPP) model in 2008. Subsequently, the PPP model was discarded in March 2011 and thereafter conversion of the hospital partly into a medical college was contemplated. The ongoing work was stopped in June 2012 after 67 percent completion of the work. The government, thereafter, revised the project in January 2014 to a 500 bed hospital-cum-nursing college,” the reported tabled on the Floor of the House, stated.
“However, the contractor expressed his inability to continue at the rates of 2008 due to periodic interruptions. Hence, the work was foreclosed in 2014 spending Rs 68.76 crore,” CAG noted.
The reported says that GSIDC stated that the number of beds increased from 400 to 800 as per the directives of Director of Health Services and hence the project was accordingly revised by the consultant.
“The fact borne out from the above thus made it clear that the project was incomplete till January 2016 after passage of nine years from inception and idling of investment of Rs 68.76 crore besides loss of interest,” CAG noted.
“In addition, inability of clients to freeze requirements hindered GSDIC compromising its objective of timely completion of infrastructure,” the report added recommending expediting the project.
