COVID-19 Pune: PMC will not stop funding for jumbo hospitals, clarifies Hemant Rasane

COVID-19 Pune: PMC will not stop funding for jumbo hospitals, clarifies Hemant Rasane

Pune: Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee Chairperson Hemant Rasane has clarified that the civic body has not denied any funds required for construction of jumbo hospitals in the city. “These hospitals are being constructed for the citizens of Pune and PMC recognizes its responsibility in this project,” Rasane told mediapersons on Saturday (August 1)

Rasane, however, alleged that the state government has not given adequate financial assistance to PMC in its fight against Covid-19 outbreak in the city. Rasane said, “In the last four months, PMC has spent around Rs 250 crore for various preventive and precautionary measures to curb the spread of coronavirus in the city, but the state government has left us alone in this battle. The state government should immediately provide substantial financial assistance to PMC.”

Rasane had earlier asked the state government to bear all the expenses of the jumbo hospital facilities being constructed at COEP and AISSMS colleges. Rasane had alleged that the state government has so far given only Rs 3 crore to the PMC and due to four-month-long lockdown, revenues of PMC had dropped significantly. After Rasane’s statement, opposition parties in PMC had opposed his stand and protested over this issue.

Rasane clarified his stand on Saturday while addressing a press conference. He said, “PMC has not stopped any expenditure over COVID-19 treatment facilities and will never do so in the future. Jumbo hospital facilities are meant for citizens of Pune and for that purpose PMC will bear any expense that is required. However, looking at the financial condition of PMC and the future expenses going to be incurred for Covid-19 facilities, I had stated that the state government should bear the extra burden of the jumbo hospitals.”

Mayor Murlidhar Mohol had also demanded financial assistance for PMC from the state government during a review meeting held in presence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

“The jumbo facilities will cost around Rs 300 crore of which the state government has agreed to bear 50 per cent cost. PMC is going to bear 25 per cent cost for these three jumbo facilities in the city. We are not going to deny funds for isolation facilities being set up but the state government should consider the financial situation of PMC too. We have already spent Rs 250 crore in the last five months in our fight against COVID-19 and we will need financial assistance from the state government now,” Mohol had said.

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com