The CAG has rapped the BJP-led civic bodies in the Capital for “failing” to mount an effective response to dengue and “wasting” crores of rupees.
Institutional gaps
The CAG’s performance audit report said the municipal bodies spent ₹109.43 crore, from 2013 to 2015, on domestic breeding-checkers without any supervision and assessment of the work done.
Among the institutional gaps that the CAG report pointed out was the lack of an effective surveillance mechanism.
Only 289 out of 967 units (30%) reported dengue data to the State Surveillance Unit, thereby undermining its objective, the report said.
“Expenditure totalling ₹42.85 crore was incurred on anti-mosquito operations, adopting techniques and chemical formulations that are not prescribed. In addition, there was no record of usage of insecticides valued at ₹79.76 lakh,” it said.
Health lapses
The watchdog also pulled up the Delhi government for spending ₹10.04 crore during 2013 to 2015 on awareness campaigns after dengue outbreak, thereby “defeating” its purpose.
This year, the Directorate of Health Services acquired 77,558.65 sqm of land, costing ₹14.26 crore for 30 planned projects.
‘Not much headway’
Apart from this, ₹3.28 crore was also proposed for building of boundary walls and fencing.
However, none of these projects were started, the report said.
“Not much headway could be made in another 11 projects of new medical facilities though DHS had incurred an expenditure of ₹17.06 crore towards land cost and boundary walls,” the report found.
The audit revealed that most hospitals are facing acute shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedics. The shortage ranged from 15% to 91%.
Facilities under utilised
The maternal and child health and diabetes, endocrine and metabolic blocks of Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital remained under utilised even after their completion due to shortage of staff, non-installation of medical gas pipeline and delay in procurement of the requisite equipment.
Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital and Janakpuri Super Speciality Hospital remained under utilised even after four to eight years of completion due to non-recruitment of staff and lack of equipment.
