A Primary Health Centre (PHC) built at a cost of ₹6.23 crore to serve as an acclimatization center for Mansarovar pilgrims has been deemed idle and non-functional, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. Located in Tshangu PHC, Chipsu, East Sikkim, the facility was constructed by the Health Department under a Government of India-sanctioned project and was completed in November 2019, after experiencing over a year of delays.
The intention behind building this PHC was to establish health services in the area, along with residential quarters for medical staff. However, the CAG’s audit revealed that as of March 2023, the facility had yet to be handed over to the relevant authority, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for East Sikkim, nor was it utilized for any other purposes, including as an acclimatization center for pilgrims. The report highlighted the absence of medical personnel, such as doctors and paramedics, as well as a lack of necessary diagnostic and investigative equipment.
Consequently, the PHC has remained non-functional, resulting in a wasted expenditure of ₹6.23 crore. A subsequent joint physical verification conducted on August 26, 2023, found the building locked and abandoned. Accumulated dust and debris covered the floors, tables, and chairs, indicating the facility’s prolonged disuse. Visible signs of damage and dampness were noted in the walls, doors, and ceilings.
Additionally, neither power nor water connections had been established, and essential medical equipment required for acclimatization was missing. The CAG has urged that the PHC be repaired and reinstated to a functional state as soon as possible, emphasizing that the total expenditure of ₹6.23 crore has been effectively wasting away.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/rs-623-cr-phc-building-lying-idle
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