77,558 sq.mt land for Delhi health plans remained unutilised: CAG

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) A total of 77,558 square meter land taken by the Delhi government for 30 health projects during 2007-16 at a cost of Rs 14.26 crore remained unutilised till August 2016, revealed a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

The report, which highlights several issues of social, general and economic sector of the Delhi government, also revealed that an additional cost of Rs 3.28 crore was also incurred for boundary walls, fencing, entry gates and security of the land pieces.

"Directorate of Health Services (DHS) took possession of 77,558.35 sq.mt land for 30 projects of new health facilities during 2007-16 at a cost of Rs 14,26 crore and incurred an additional expenditure of Rs 3.28 crore on boundary walls, fencing, entry gates and security. But none of these plots were utilised as of August 2016," said the report for the year ending March 31, 2016.

The CAG report also highlights that no headway could be achieved in 11 other projects of new hospitals with proposed bed capacity of 2,575, though executing agencies had been decided.

"DHS had incurred an expenditure of Rs 17.06 crore on these projects towards land cost, boundary walls and security," said the report.

According to the CAG, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic (DEM) blocks of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital constructed at a cost of Rs 72.07 crore remained underutilised even after two-four years of completion.

The reason why it remained underutilised was shortage of staff, non-installation of medical gas pipeline and delay in procurement of requisite equipment.

"Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital and Janakpuri Superspecialty Hospital remained underutilised even after four-eight years of completion due to non-recruitment of staff and lack of equipment," said the report.

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