Rights activist from the city Ajay Dubey has alleged that Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam (MPUVN) is also responsible for the deaths of infants and other patients, as it did not install solar power plant in Balaghat and other district hospitals of the State and demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the matter.
Dubey in a statement here on Thursday said, “The deaths of infants and other patients due to lack of electricity in the district hospitals and health centres of the State took place because of corruption in the installation of solar power plants that were funded by the World Bank besides heavy disorder and inhuman government attitude. These incidences have exposed heavy corruption and inhuman approach of the health department of the State.”
Dubey further said that the issue was raised by him earlier before the media made several complaints with the State Government and also knocked the doors of Madhya Pradesh High Court. The High Court while hearing the Public Interest litigation (PIl) of social activist Sushil levi ordered MPUVN on September 4, 2015 to conduct enquiry but it did not took appropriate action. Distressed with this levi again took shelter of High Court in June 2016 but despite strong but sensitive attitude of the High Court Urja Vikas Nigam did not take any effective step, he added.
He said that Government of India’s Renewable Energy Ministry ordered the MPUVN on its proposal to install solar plants worlds crore of rupees 129 health centres in 2011 to save the lives of patients due to lack of electricity. These solar plants were funded by the World Bank. Balaghat district where some infants died last days due to lack of electricity was also provided Rs 70 lakh for installation of solar plant. According to our information 199 infants and 15 procreant women have died there during the past nine months exposing the lethargic approach of health department and criminal negligence of MPUVN, he added.
Dubey said that we demand the criminal negligence of the MPUVN and health department blended with corruption in solar plants installations should be investigated by the CBI and those responsible for the deaths of infants and others should be sent to jail.