MLA alleges corruption in purchase of medicines by AYUSH Dept.; seeks suspension of guilty officials

Alleging that there was corruption in the purchase of medicines at the Department of AYUSH in Dakshina Kannada, Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyasa Kamath said here on Thursday that the BJP will stage a protest if the government did not suspend the officials concerned.

Addressing presspersons the MLA said that Lokayukta officials have raided the AYUSH Department office in Mangaluru in this connection and senior officials of the Department of Health and Family Welfare have visited its office twice to conduct an inquiry.

The MLA alleged that the department has distributed outdated medicines to patients and have “played with the life” of people.

Mr. Kamath said that as he came to know about “corruption in the purchase of medicines” he brought the same to the notice of Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan and submitted to him related documents. “I raised the matter in the Karnataka Development Programme Review Committee meeting chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao in Mangaluru on Saturday. But so far no action has been taken against officials concerned,” the MLA said.

“Whether the government is protecting some officials in this matter?” Mr. Kamath asked.

He said if there was no action against officials concerned the BJP will protest in front of the Government Wenlock Hospital and Department of AYUSH in Mangaluru.

Move to impose toll opposed

The MLA said that there is a move to impose toll (users’ fee) on vehicles using the Kadri Park road. The government can not impose toll on the vehicles as the road in question developed under Mangaluru Smart City Mission by Mangaluru Smart City Ltd. (MSCL) was not built under public private partnership (PPP). The bidder who is maintaining road has not invested any money to develop the road. It was the government which invested money on the road. Hence no toll can be collected. “I strongly oppose any move to collect the toll. The government should drop its move,” the MLA said.

E-khata server problem

Mr. Kamath said that people in the city still faced technical glitches in the government’s computer server issuing e-khata. The government is not bothered to rectify the glitches. Hence, people have been put into trouble. People will have to wait for long to get e-khata.