HLP alleges Rs 7.24 cr scam in free ambulance service,demands probe

The newly-formed Himachal Lokhit Party on Thursday alleged that the state government paid an inflated amount to buy ambulances as a part of free service under a centrally funded National Rural Health Mission scheme.

The newly-formed Himachal Lokhit Party on Thursday alleged that the state government paid an inflated amount to buy ambulances as a part of free service under a centrally funded National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) scheme.

Party spokesman,Mohinder Sofat,said the state paid an additional Rs 7.24 crore for the ambulances,which are used under the Atal Swasthya Sewa Yojana and,are run by a Andhra Pradesh-based firm,GVK-EMRI.

The documents obtained by the RTI cell of the party reveals that actual cost of the services,including purchasing of 100 ambulances was Rs 22.60 crore. But state government paid Rs 29.84 crore to the GVK-EMRI company, he alleged. Sofat said the company,which was awarded the contract through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) route,had presented inflated projections on the cost of operating the service.

Sofat said that Chief Minister Perm Kumar Dhumal should refer the case to the CBI for a probe and drop Vajpayees name from the scheme.

The HLP leader said that State Health Minister Rajeev Bindal was already facing several allegations including a vigilance case under section 420.

Incidentally,Bindal had earlier filed two defamation cases against Sofat. Replying to other queries,Sofat said party would meet on April 28 at Mandi to draw a strategy for fielding candidates candidates at all 68 Assembly constituencies. He said HKP wont join hands with BJP or the Congress.

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