E Arun
Port Blair, Nov 21: Smelling rat in multi-crore medicine purchase deals of Andaman’s Health Department, the lone Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray today alleged that there is large scale swindling of public money in this Union Territory in purchase of medicines.
Addressing a press conference at Port Blair this morning the MP said that most of the medicines purchased by the Health Department are sub-standard and are purchased in astronomically high rates, through middlemen.
“Medicines which are sold by Tamil Nadu Medical services Corporation Ltd. at 84 paisa is being purchased by A & N Administration at Rs. 20. Moreover many of these medicines were found sub-standard,” Ray added.
He said that Health Ministry has accepted that in quality of production and supply of medicines Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation Ltd., (TNMSC) is best in country. “Why to purchase medicines from Middlemen at astronomical high rate when the A & N Administration can directly purchase medicines from TNMSC. I urge the Administration to purchase all medicines directly from TNMSC, in that case local Administration will have to bear only the transportation cost extra,” he said.
Regarding Yacht Marina Project at Viper Island, Mr. Ray said that the project and hotel can be made anywhere else.
“Viper heritage should be preserved and for this best architecture must be called to re-build the structures of Viper Island,” he said
The MP cautioned that the Chouldari Dam is in a very bad shape and may give up at any point of time. He demanded to conduct immediate repair works in Chouldari Dam.
The MP expressed dissatisfaction on formation of a committee regarding Buffer Zone and demanded immediate review of the committee. He said that before taking any decision regarding Buffer Zone, Gram Sabha or every village must be consulted.
Batting for Home Guard Jawans the MP said that there are total 325 Home Guards working in A & N Police but they are given many facilities HRA etc.
