Responding to a scathing letter by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over “inordinately delayed” hospital projects in the national capital, Delhi health minister Saurabh Bhardwaj claimed that the LG’s allegations were baseless. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister, Bharadwaj highlighting his concerns regarding LG spreading misinformation about Delhi Government's under construction hospitals.
“I have got to know about a letter dated 22.06.2023 written by Lt. Governor to you regarding the alleged delay in construction of hospitals in Delhi.
Interestingly, before you could seek any explanation from the Department of Health this letter was given to media houses by the LG Office,” Bhardwaj said . He said the allegation of LG that these hospitals were started much before COVID are factually incorrect and misleading.
It is unfortunate that the LG, without confirming the factual history and the current status of these projects has accused that if the construction of these hospitals would have been completed and would have been functional, their beds would have been used during Covid pandemic, Bhardwaj said. “It would have been prudent for the LG to have discussed the matter with the undersigned prior to leveling such baseless allegations which does not suit the stature of the office of Lieutenant Governor. I would have been more than happy to explain him the current status and the challenges being faced.
It is also pertinent to mention that I had called a meeting to review status of these projects on 16.06.2023 for which the meeting notice was issued on 13.06.2023. It is strange coincidence that a news was published regarding 'Hospital Projects' in newspapers on the day of meeting i.e. 16.06.2023 with all data. It is needless to say that some is doing overtime to create forums for LG to write such letters,” Minister claimed.
The factual details as submitted to me in the meeting by the Department of Health and Department of PWD which includes the date of start of these projects and their original date of completion and their revised date of completion are also mentioned in Bhardwaj’s letter.