Mumbai : BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has demanded the Lokayukta probe into the purchase of 22 acres of land for setting up a 5,000-bed hospital in Mulund. “We will look into all the documents and take appropriate action,” Somaiya told reporters.
On Friday, Kirit Somaiya met Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and presented a statement to him. In the statement, Somaiya said that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner to immediately acquire 22 acres of land for setting up a 5,000-bed hospital in Mumbai. The order was not discussed at any level, nor was the feasibility report on the construction of the hospital prepared. Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chehal directed the municipal officials to acquire the land as per the order of the Chief Minister. In all these processes it seems that the decision as to which land to acquire must have already been made. According to him, the process of land acquisition in Mulund was expedited, he accused Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Governor Maharashtra Koshyari ji assured Me to consider & send Our Petition to Lokayukta. 5000 Bed Hospital of ₹12000 crore, Land Aquisition Scam. Our Complaint against Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Munbai Municipal Commissioner & CMO @BJP4Maharashtra @Dev_Fadnavis @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/lclHem9kaA
— Kirit Somaiya (@KiritSomaiya) October 30, 2020
In order to acquire the land, a tender was called for the advertisement in the newspaper and the proposal of SWAS Construction was accepted. Does SWAS Construction have ownership / lease rights of the premises concerned? Examination of the documents reveals that his proposal was accepted without scrutinizing the legal issues. Jumbo centers set up elsewhere for Covid treatment have been handed over to private doctors as the state government does not have the required medical facilities. In such a situation, will it be possible for the state government and NMC to run a 5,000-bed hospital? Kirit Somaiya has said that the proposal to set up a hospital without considering this has been approved.
So this whole transaction is questionable. It is suspected that the scam should be worth Rs 12,000 crore. The construction cost of this hospital will be covered by the tax paid by Mumbaikars. Why should Mumbaikars suffer so much? Asking such a question, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has demanded in a statement that the governor should order an inquiry into the whole affair through the Lokayukta.