Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) has turned into a battlefield for supremacy between elected representatives and administration which manifested again today when Mayor Asha lakra opened a front against Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the corporation Manoj Kumar. lakra accused the CEO of stripping elected representatives of their rights and working tyrannically on matters of public importance.
The Mayor once again reaffirmed her position on the construction of Apollo Hospital which is proposed at Doranda. lakra had previously refused to give her assent to the agreement signed between the RMC and Apollo Hospital and called for amending the terms and conditions of the agreement. Notably, the letter of award for the hospital was given by Chief Minister Hemant Soren in March 2013 but the proposed medical facility faced hiccups since then.
“The terms and conditions of the agreement are not in the favour of poor. It doesn’t say anything about providing medical facilities to RMC staffs. CEO inked this pact at the behest of Secretary Urban Development. Is a Mayor’s chair for namesakeIJ” said lakra.
Acrimony between the Mayor and the CEO is likely to become uglier as the Mayor flashed newspapers carrying observation of court that the CEO is unfit to head to the municipal corporation. lakra also threatened to take legal recourse in the matter. Part of the terms and conditions say that BPl families will be provided 10 per cent rebate in OPD and five per cent on bed by the hospital. The hospital will be thrown open for the public within 21 months.
“Can we serve poor better with so low rebatesIJ If the terms and conditions are not amended I will go to court (against the agreement),” maintained lakra.
The 200-bedded super specialty hospital, of Apollo groups, will be constructed on 2.80 acres land of RMC at Ghahra in Doranda. The hospital will offer care in 30 disciplines that included specialised treatment for cardiac, kidney and neurological disorders. The land has been given on lease for 30 years to the Apollo group. According to the contract the hospital has to provide 0.5 per cent from their turn over to the municipal corporation.
Meanwhile, the CEO rubbished the charges leveled by lakra terming it exaggerated and out of context. Kumar emphasized that it is always a government’s will that shall prevail as it is supreme. The CEO claimed that his actions are in conformity with law and procedure laid down by law.
“The letter had come from Urban Development department. Government is supreme so who’s will shall prevailIJ Moreover, consent to the agreement was given two to three years back by the elected representatives (of RMC),” said the CEO.