Delhi Government has put the ball in the lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal's court over the delay in its promise of building 1,000 Mohalla Clinics across the national Capital. While responding to a question in the Delhi Assembly's Monsoon session, Health Minister Satyender Jain said that the files were pending over "security" and "land use" issues with the lieutenant-Governor, due to which the construction of the Mohalla Clinics could not take off fully.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got into a verbal spat over the issue with the later alleging that it was the city Government's "failure" that the project had not taken off in "full strength".
The AAP, on the other hand accused the Opposition of creating hurdles in implementation of the project. The question whether the Government had proposed to open 1,000 mohalla clinics all over Delhi and what were the reasons for these not being opened till date was asked by Rajesh Gupta, the AAP MlA from Wazirpur.
Under this health project, the AAP Government wants to open 1,000 mohalla clincs across the city while more than 110 facilities have already come up. Mohalla clinic is a flagship project of the AAP Government which is aimed at providing free primary healthcare to the Dellihites.
Replying to a query during the Question Hour, Jain said officials are not allowing more such clinics as l-G has not given his nod so far. "There are issues of security and with regards to the land where the Mohalla Clinics would be erected. There is some confusion among officers with respect to the l-G's approval to some Cabinet notes. They lack clarity while hurdles are being created in setting them up," Jain alleged while addressing the House on Thursday. He also said that a solution to this would be found at the earliest.
While the arguments heated up between the AAP MlAs and BJP MlAs, Speaker Ram Niwas Goel told the Opposition leader Vijender Gupta that instead of accusing, it is better to meet the lieutenant-Governor and ask him about the file on Mohalla Clinics.
Goel said a five member delegation, including the BJP and AAP MlAs, along with him could meet the l-G and take up the issue to request for his approval.