Pics: Sphoorti Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MSP)

Mangalore, Jun 2: Newly-inducted state minister Krishna Palemar has promised to hold detailed investigation into the allegations of corruption the district department of health is facing.

He was replying to a plea made by Hanumanth Kamath, president, Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti on Monday June 2. At the same time, he expressed his inability to stop procurement of the medicines, as the chikungunya cases are continuously on the rise in the district. Probe will be conducted at an appropriate time to plug corruption prevalent in the district health department if any, he assured.

Earlier, Hanumanta Kamath stated, that a special grant of Rs 7 lac has been sanctioned to the district health department to purchase allopathic, ayurvedic and homoeopathic medicines needed to treat chikungunya patients. The health department is purchasing these medicines from the wholesalers but getting the bill prepared through the retailers and claiming inflated bills. Thus, the health department officials pocket a margin of 20% of these bills. Normally, the wholesalers sell the medicines to the retailers at a discount of 20%. This margin has gone to health department officials. Therefore, the minister should order a probe, he urged.

Meanwhile, the residents of Vyasnagar and Barebail informed Palemar that the approach road which connects KPT junction to Vyasnagar has been cut off by the NHAI contractors for widening the highway. Therefore, the locality is deprived of the connecting road used by majority of residents there, they said. Palemar assured them of providing proper connectivity by making alternative arrangements.

Meanwhile, he received memorandums connected with transfer of teachers, delay of work in the police stations etc. Speaking to media persons later, Palemar said that the hike affected in the water tax in the  city corporation limits will be reviewed.  The state government will provide Rs 40 crore for constructing a new vented dam across Netravati River. Earlier, the governor had decided to prune down the government contribution to this project to just Rs 20 crore. The government will meet the entire cost of Rs 40 crore needed to construct the dam, Palemar revealed.

Palemar also held himself in favour of appointing an  IAS cadre officer to the post of commissioner in Mangalore City Corporation.