Shillong, March 27: Health & Family Welfare Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh on Monday said amount relating to the Covid funds which has been ‘misunderstood’ as missing has not been spent and will be released based on the physical progress of the sanctioned works.
She was replying to a Zero Hour notice moved by VPP legislator from North Shillong Adelbert Nongrum on the an RTI filed by one Disparsing Rani which alleged misappropriation of Rs 43 crore sanctioned for tackling the Covid pandemic in the state.
Lyngdoh informed that during the Covid pandemic period, Union of India through Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had come up with an Emergency Covid Response Package to support the efforts of State in its efforts towards fighting Covid.
The package was accorded to Meghalaya in two phases viz., ECRP Phase I and ECRP Phase II. This was funded through the National Health Mission.
She said that ECRO Phase-I is 100% Centrally funded whereas ECRP-II encapsulates a 90:10 funding pattern between central and state government respectively. ECRP-I was for the year 2020-21 and ECRP-II was during 2021-22.
The Minister clarified that the question asked in the assembly last time i.e. Autumn Session of 2022 was the total “amount spent” from central and state respectively. Thus, the answer that was given mentioned Rs 76.56 crores in the Assembly.
She also pointed out that the RTI filed to Union Ministry has asked for “amount sanctioned” for which the reply given as on January 20, 2023 was Rs 104.12 crore
“I would like to mention that the amount mentioned in the RTI is correct but, however, the reply given during the then autumn session was about the money that was spent already,” Lyngdoh said.
She said various works sanctioned under ECRP-II are long term works, the works of which are going on. Moreover, the sanction for one major component of the package i.e Critical Care Block amounting to Rs 21.38 crore was given much later than that of the other components. The work has just begun for that and no financial progress has been made so far.
“Therefore, the amount that has been misunderstood as missing has not been spent and shall be released based on the physical progress of the sanctioned works,” Lyngdoh added.
