Odisha: BJD says no scam in mask procurement; Congress moves governor
Sasmit Patra
BHUBANESWAR: With the opposition parties upping the ante against the BJD government, alleging a scam in procurement of masks, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other emergency medical equipment, the ruling party on Thursday defended the state government’s decision denying any scam in their procurement.
Addressing a press conference here at the party headquarters, BJD Rajya Sabha member and spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, “The state government has not paid a single penny, beyond the price fixed by the Centre, in the procurement of masks. The procurement of masks has been done in accordance with the prices fixed by the Union government.”
The Congress moved the governor on Thursday, seeking an independent probe.
While making an estimate of the requirement of PPEs and emergency medical equipment, the technical committee of the state government had informed about the need for around five crore masks in Odisha. “Keeping in mind the importance of masks in the fight against Covid-19, the state government had procured masks on a priority basis for the safety of our Covid warriors,” Patra said.
He added that the Centre had on March 21 fixed the selling price of a mask at Rs 10, while it increased it to Rs 16 on March 24.
States like Kerala procured masks for Rs 16 per piece, Maharashtra for Rs 16, Gujarat for Rs 20, Karnataka for Rs 18.74, West Bengal for Rs 17.70 and Tamil Nadu for Rs 15.96 a piece. “Odisha also procured masks for Rs 16 per piece giving priority to saving lives than saving costs in the pandemic,” Patra said.
As the Congress moved governor Ganeshi Lal on Thursday, Patra said the Congress should not belittle the efforts and sacrifices of the Covid warriors and the 4.5 crore people of the state.
“If the Congress has any evidence, we urge them to go to the court or any other forum,” Patra said.
The president of the state Congress unit, Niranjan Patnaik, submitted a memorandum to the governor seeking an independent probe into the procurement of masks.
“There was huge financial misappropriation in the procurement of masks and other medical equipment during the Covid pandemic in Odisha. We have urged the governor to direct for an impartial inquiry into the matter and ask the government to take appropriate action against those found guilty,” Patnaik told reporters.
State BJP general secretary Prithiviraj Harichandan also demanded an inquiry by an independent agency, alleging scam in the procurement of masks. Harichandan also criticised the state government’s decision to provide incentive to suppliers for the timely supply of PPEs and emergency equipment.
The state government has come under the opposition attack over procurement of masks after it recently removed state industries secretary Hemanta Sharma from a panel that supervised the procurement of PPEs and emergency medical equipment.