Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Kodela promises action against guilty

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD Nov. 15. The Medical and Health Minister, K. Sivaprasada Rao, on Friday said action would be taken against the guilty after an enquiry by a former Engineer-in-Chief, Subbaram Reddy, into the poor quality of construction of the newly-built Millennium Block of the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences.

Replying to a short notice question by M. V. Mysoora Reddy (Congress) and others, Dr. Sivaprasada Rao said an enquiry by the Vigilance and Enforcement Department revealed certain irregularities, involving Rs. 60 lakhs. Among other findings, it had recommended recovery of Rs. 6 lakhs from the contractor and action against the Technical Advisor, a former Superintending Engineer of Roads and Buildings Department.

He said action was being taken to recover the amount. Action could not be taken against the Technical Advisor as he died. The Vigilance report was considered by the Exceutive Board of the NIMS and it was awaiting certain clarifications.

The Minister's reply did not satisfy the Congress members. Dr. Mysoora Reddy alleged that the Government was trying to cover up the issue. Disputing the Minister's claim, he said there was misappropriation of Rs. 73 lakhs, a big amount considering the cost of the construction which was Rs.5 crores. Cement of inferior quality was used. He said the Vigilance department has come out with its findings and wondered why the Government was not taking action against the Director, the Technical Advisor and the approval committee.

His party colleague, J. C. Diwakar Reddy, narrated his personal experience of the roof of a room in the Millennium Block leaked, just with a 10-minute rain. His brother who was admitted there had to be shifted to another room. Even while the work was going on, the executive engineer and the assistant executive engineer brought to the notice of the Director, about the inferior quality of work but the latter did not act.

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