CM Kumaraswamy instructs to find a way to cover losses without increasing bus fares
CM chairs review meeting of transport department
Bengaluru: This year, there is an increase of Rs. 131 crore in the collection of transport department compared to the previous year. The state road transport corporation should be able to deliver services by understanding passengers’ desires, noted Chief Minister H.D Kumaraswamy.
The CM also instructed to take steps to provide basic facilities to the passengers apart from only giving bus facilities. “Chalk out a plan to cover the losses of the department without burdening the passengers,” the Chief Minister instructed.
“Measures would be taken to increase the bus fares after taking the public opinion. He instructed the department officials to find an alternate route to cover the losses without increasing the bus fares,” Kumaraswamy said.
Transport Minister D.C.Tamanna, PWD Minister H.D Revanna, Minister for co-operation Bandeppa Kashempur, Chief Secretary Dr. T.M Vijaya Bhaskar, PS to CM Dr. E.V Ramana Reddy, and others were present.
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Karnataka procured 16 lakh expired RT-PCR kits during Covid wave: D’Cunha commission
Bengaluru: Justice John Michael D’Cunha’s committee has uncovered significant irregularities in the procurement of medical supplies during the Covid-19 pandemic, revealing that more than 16 lakh RT-PCR test kits purchased by Karnataka in 2022 under the BJP-led government were either expired or close to their expiry dates.
After irregularities in PPE kit purchases, ventilators have also come under the scanner, with the report highlighting discrepancies amounting to Rs 173.26 crore in purchases made by the Medical Education Department.
The commission has also found that the Karnataka State Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd. (KSMSCL) that cancelled a supply order for one lakh Rapid Antigen (RAT) kits placed with a Singapore-based company in March 2020 — for delay in supplying — has not recovered the Rs 6.99 crore paid to the company towards the order, as reported by The Hindu on Thursday.
According to the 279-page report on procurements made by the KSMSCL that is compiled in part IV of the report, a payment of Rs 148.84 crore was made by KSMSCL to various suppliers and firms towards procurement of RT-PCR kits from 2020 to 2022.
The Commission’s report, as cited by the publication, stated that there were records indicating procurement of RT-PCR kits, RNA extraction kits and Viral transport media (VTM) of a total value of Rs 106.25 crore during the pandemic in Karnataka. However, according to the report, this procurement was made without administrative approval.
“Since the KSMSCL has failed to discharge its obligation and responsibility, the loss caused to the State exchequer to this extent is required to be replenished by the erring officers and/or officials of the KSMSCL as well as the officers and/or officials of the consignee designated laboratories who received the consignment,” the report said, pegging the losses due to expired kits supplied by companies at Rs 3.11 crore.
In response to the report’s findings, state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao criticised the saffron party for profiting from the pandemic. He promised accountability for the irregularities involving PPE kits and ventilators, stating that those responsible would face punishment.
