The SUVs are mendacity unused on the campus of the third battalion of Chhattisgarh Safety Power in Durg
In a surprising occasion of the wastage of taxpayers’ cash, 4 hundred Mahindra Bolero SUVs are rotting unused on the campus of the third battalion of Chhattisgarh Safety Power within the state’s Durg district. The autos have been purchased final 12 months for the state’s emergency Dial-112 service throughout 22 cities. They have been to reply to SOS calls, together with taking individuals to hospitals and aiding catastrophe response. Then the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress authorities was voted out, and for over a 12 months now, these SUVs are rotting away.
And whereas these autos procured for emergency companies are mendacity unused, a number of elements of the state are witnessing situations of massive gaps in catastrophe response and the unavailability of public autos throughout emergencies.
In Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district, represented within the Meeting by Well being Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, a lady fractured her leg and referred to as an ambulance. The ambulance by no means arrived, and the household needed to transport the lady to the hospital on a cot.
“We referred to as the ambulance, however they advised us it was choosing up one other affected person. We have been requested to take the affected person ourselves,” Parmeshwar, the lady’s relative stated.
In one other such case in Ambikapur, a pregnant girl referred to as an ambulance after she went into labour. The ambulance didn’t come and the household needed to take her to hospital on a cot. Dr. Shailendra Gupta of Ambikapur district hospital stated the ambulance had reached the primary street, however couldn’t attain the lady’s doorstep. “This highlights the street entry challenge in lots of elements of Surguja, the place massive autos can solely attain the primary street,” he stated.
With insufficient sources and main gaps in catastrophe response resulting in such situations each different day, the sight of 40 SUVs which are mendacity unused regardless of being procured for these conditions raises massive questions.
The autos have been bought for Rs 40 crore in July-August final 12 months, months earlier than the BJP authorities got here to energy. They’ve remained parked since then. Vijay Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister, stated, “We now have raised questions relating to the standing of those autos and why they continue to be unused. We’ll quickly obtain a solution.” These within the know say it’s going to take a minimum of 5-6 months for a brand new tender to be issued in order that the autos could be put to make use of. As soon as that occurs, every SUV would require upkeep costing a minimum of Rs 20,000 earlier than they can be utilized.