PNS | DEHRADUN
The State Health department recently submitted a letter to the State Election Commission regarding the commencement of construction work for a blood bank at the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya district Hospital while the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force. Informing this, the hospital’s medical superintendent Dr V S Chauhan stated that the officials concerned had recently approved the budget for the blood bank’s construction and provided the first instalment of Rs 46 lakh for the project. However, despite receiving this initial funding, construction work on the blood bank has not yet begun.
Chauhan emphasised that the work has been stalled due to the MCC enforcement for the upcoming urban local body elections across the State. However, under the direction of the district magistrate Savin Bansal, the health department has recently written to the State Election Commission, seeking approval to commence the blood bank construction work despite the MCC. “A response from the Commission is expected soon,” he said, adding that it might take a year to complete the work.
To recall, acting on the DM’s directive, the hospital administration had earlier submitted a proposal for the blood bank to the State administration which was approved a few days ago. To take things forward, the State administration has recently issued a tender for the blood bank construction to the agency Peyjal Nigam. Moreover, a meeting was held a few days back with the Health secretary R Rajesh Kumar and the hospital and Peyjal Nigam officials during which the Peyjal Nigam presented a budget estimate of Rs 1.42 crore for the blood bank’s construction. The Health secretary reassured them that the budget would be reviewed during construction and adjusted as needed, regardless of whether it falls below or exceeds the initial estimate.
