Nagpur: Bureaucratic delays and damaging lengthy procedures seems to have costed Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGGMC) its 24 cr grant from the chief minister's fund. This fund was apparently given to meet the requirements of the college and hospital in accordance with rulings laid down by the Medical Council Of India.

TOI today clearly highlighted the issue faced by the esteemed medical college.

Assigned for purchase of 113 equipments for the hospital , nothing seems to have been purchased yet. Due to deadline elapses, the Rs 19.50 crores grant for purchase orders for the directorate of medical education and research still lies pending. However the tendering process for Rs. 12.75 crore has been completed.

The Directorate officials are trying to seek an extension in order to complete the purchasing processes for the DMER . According to Dr. Prakash Wakode, DMER , "We are trying our best to expedite the process and seek extension for placing orders. So, still there is hope."

The college acting dean, Dr M.P. Parchand expressed similar concerns. He said "from our side, we have completed all the procedures in time, whenever the letters came to us for taking the required steps at different stages,"

A few other reasons have also been cited for the delay of purchase orders. "This is worse than the normal procedure. It is very difficult to shift funds from one head to another due to the bureaucratic procedures of the finance department. Hence, there was a delay first in shifting the fund under other head," said a teaching staff.

Administrative approval for Rs. 6.76 crores of the total Rs. 26 crore grant has yet to materialise. The amount according to officials was to be exhausted in purchase of furniture for the hostel, office and examination hall. These purchases are o be done by the public works department; leaving students stranded . They were promised a furnished 180 bedded UG hostel. Furnishing of the hostel seems to be a distant dream.

The IGGMC enjoyed better luck as they were able to consume the entire 3 crore sanction granted by the District Planning Committee (DPC).Meticulous planning by the officials was given credit to by those involved

The IGGMC, however, was lucky to be able to spend entire money (Rs3 crore) it obtained from the District Planning Committee (DPC).

"We managed to utilize the funds through meticulous planning. It required team work and a lot of ground work," said Dr Vaishali Shelgaonkar, member of the task force committee for upgradation of PG courses.
The college had completed the new ground plus-four surgical building which will house orthopaedics and surgery wards, operation theatres and 14 ICU beds. Hence, the entire DPC fund could be used for equipment, furnishing etc for this building. The fourth floor has been constructed from the central government's fund under PG upgradation plan.
From the planned grant of Rs 60 lakh, the IGGMC dean Dr MP Parchand said that the most important purchases made to meet the MCI norms included blood component separation facility for plasma, platelets etc, video-gastroscope, OT lights, pipelines for oxygen supply in OT, nitrous oxide and equipment and furniture for new casualty ward.