A controversy has erupted over the construction of new buildings at the Pathanamthitta General Hospital in Kerala, India, after the project engineer reportedly admitted to compromising the quality of the structures due to hurried execution of works ahead of the Assembly elections. The disclosure was made during a meeting of the Hospital Management Committee (HMC) held on Friday evening in the presence of Aranmula legislator Abin Varkey. The MLA and the district panchayat have directed officials to inspect all construction works and conduct a detailed audit of accounts following the revelation.
According to district panchayat vice-president Aneesh Varikkannamala, the engineer representing the project consultant admitted that the works were carried out under political pressure without adequate quality checks. The engineer reportedly stated that wall plastering was rushed and white cement was applied before it had set, while only around 60% of the work had been completed at the time of inauguration. The alleged irregularities have sparked a demand for a vigilance probe and a detailed audit of accounts. The Youth Congress has lodged a complaint with the Home Minister seeking a probe into alleged irregularities in the construction of the new hospital buildings.
The controversy stems from the inauguration of the under-construction Critical Care Block and OP Block at the hospital ahead of the elections, which had drawn criticism at the time. The Congress had alleged that the buildings were still halfway through construction and were being inaugurated at the instance of the then Health Minister Veena George, who was also the local legislator. The OP Block is being constructed over 31,200 square feet using ₹22.16 crore sanctioned under Nabard funding, while the Critical Care Block is being built with ₹23.62 crore under NHM funds. The alleged irregularities and lack of transparency in tender procedures and financial transactions have raised concerns about the safety risk to patients and the public.
The MLA, Abin Varkey, has decided to examine all files related to the project, while district panchayat president Deenamma Roy has directed the officials concerned to produce all relevant records for verification. A meeting of all stakeholders, including project engineers, contractors, and subcontractors, will soon be convened to assess the structural stability of the buildings. The controversy has sparked a debate about the need for transparency and accountability in public works projects.
The Pathanamthitta General Hospital construction controversy is a stark reminder of the need for transparency and accountability in public works projects. The allegations of political pressure and lack of quality checks have raised concerns about the safety risk to patients and the public. As the government launches an investigation into the alleged irregularities, it remains to be seen whether the controversy will lead to any concrete action or reforms in the way public works projects are executed in the future.
