Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah on Friday alleged misappropriation of funds by the BJP government in Karnataka in the purchase of COVID-19-related medical equipment.
The former chief minister demanded a white paper on the COVID-19 expenditure in the state as well as sought a probe into the purchase of the equipment.
"Prima facie it appears the state government has indulged in huge misappropriation in purchasing equipment worth Rs 3,000 crore. It is clear that the government has paid 2-3 times more than the market price. It is case of misappropriation of funds and corruption," alleged Siddaramaiah, who read out from the government affidavit filed before the High Court, during a press meet held in Bengaluru on Friday.
According to the affidavit, the state government has spent a total of Rs 3,392 crore for the purchase of COVID-19-related medical equipment. But the market price of these equipment as estimated by the opposition Congress as Rs 1,163.65 crore.
For instance, the government has spent Rs 120 crore for the purchase of 1,000 ventilators, against an estimated cost of Rs 40 crore. Similarly, the purchase of 4.89 lakh PPE kits has cost Rs 150 crore against the market price of Rs 48.65 crore. The procurement price of other items like masks, surgical gloves, oxygen cylinders, COVID-19 test kits, kiosks, hospitalisation costs for COVID-19 patients, hand sanitisers and soap is allegedly inflated and an additional amount of Rs 1,732 crore remains unaccounted for.
Siddaramaiah has demanded the government constitute an all-party committee to oversee the COVID-19 expenditure in the state.
"The state government has failed in managing the COVID-19 outbreak and there has been misappropriation of Rs 2,200 crore in the purchase of the equipment. When the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee H.K. Patil sought to probe into the complaints, assembly speaker passed a stay order on the inspection. Even the finance department has raised objection to the purchases citing exorbitant price," claimed Siddaramaiah.
Lamenting over the dearth of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients in the state and instances of inappropriate handling of dead bodies of the patients reported in the media, Siddaramaiah blamed the lack of planning and coordination between the health, medical education and revenue ministers for the mess.
"Experts have warned that the number of cases in Bengaluru alone will reach 40,000 in the next two months. But the government is ill prepared. It claims there are 4,663 beds and only 2,694 beds are occupied. Yet patients are being turned down by hospitals saying the beds are not vacant. The handling of the dead bodies despite the guidelines is inhuman," said Siddaramaiah.
"The government has not been disclosing the amount of donation received by the PM-CARES fund and CM Relief Fund too," alleged Siddaramaiah.
