The Hindu 11.03.2011
Surprise check shows up dodgy BBMP health files
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike’s Standing Committee for Accounts
found that the files in the office of the Chief Health Officer (CHO)
were maintained poorly, during a surprise inspection on Thursday.
Procedural lapse
Committee chairperson Gangabyraiah fumed that the
ledgers were no better “than notebooks of primary schoolchildren”. He
said that there was a procedural lapse on part of CHO L.T. Gayathri in
maintaining files, cashbook, demand draft ledger, earnest money deposit
(EMD) ledger, tender issuing book and others. He also charged that the
BBMP Health Department had failed to set right the lapses pointed out by
the Audit Department.
“Between 1992 and 2007, the Audit Department directed the Health Department to recover Rs 14.85 crore and Rs. 52.75 lakh.
The CHO has failed to recover the amount,” he said.
Though the CHO claimed efforts were made to recover the money, the committee members were not convinced.
Medicine storeroom
Mr. Gangabyraiah found similar irregular file
maintenance at the medicine storeroom at Yellamma Dasappa Hospital.
Rebuking officials there, he said he would recommend to the BBMP
Commissioner disciplinary action against them.
The committee members also found bed sheets and other materials strewn around.
Meanwhile, Dr. Gayathri maintained that efforts were on
to recover the money and that the reports of recovery would be submitted
to the committee shortly.
“I admit that the ledger maintenance was not in order
but there is no misappropriation of money. There has been an acute
shortage of staff in the office of CHO and despite repeated requests no
action has been initiated,” she said.
