Srinagar: A day after J&K Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo apprised the Legislative Assembly about the major lapse of funds over the past three years at SKIMS Soura, ruling National Conference has sought an inquiry to fix responsibility on the delays that compromised healthcare delivery at the premier institute. The Opposition Peoples Democratic Party also called for a thorough inquiry into the issue.
National Conference spokesperson Imran Nabi Dar expressed anguish over the lapse of funds that was meant for patient-care and augmentation of the Institute. He said the lapses took place due to lack of accountability and due to the lacunae in governance over the past few years.
“Today, we are talking about these projects, funds and asking questions while seeking meaningful answers in assembly. All these years, people of J&K could not even ask a question,” he said.
He said SKIMS Soura concerns everyone and its upgradation would have benefited people of J&K.
Dar demanded that people be told who is responsible for the delays in spending. “A committee must be constituted to reveal the facts that led to the lapses,” he said.
It also needs to be ascertained whether the lapses happened at SKIMS Soura only or elsewhere as well. He said the people of J&K could hold the administration accountable and seek the trail of money. It is not just about SKIMS Soura, but many other departments were also under scanner for their fund utilization. “The House has established a committee for investigating a case related to the Jal Shakti department only yesterday,” he said.
Meanwhile, PDP spokesperson Iqbal Tramboo said the inquiry must be beyond SKIMS Soura. Industrial grants, land allotment, township projects must be investigated.
Public money meant for SKIMS Soura and patient-care to the tune of Rs 100 crore must be investigated. There must be a committee to probe why and how these funds lapsed. He said accountability must be fixed and the guilty punished.
It was revealed in Assembly on 22 March that funds to the tune of 34.16 percent of the allotted funds had lapsed at SKIMS between 2021 and 2023.
