No Scam In PPE Kit Purchase, We Followed Central Guidelines, Claims Odisha Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Saturday claimed that there is no irregularity in the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic.

Briefing the media here, Health and Family Welfare minister Naba Kishore Das said that like other states, the Odisha government had purchased the PPEs on a war-footing.

“The Centre in a letter on March 21 had asked the state government to purchase masks at Rs 10 each. In another letter on March 24, it had asked to purchase masks at Rs 16. The procurement price of whatever equipment procured by the state government has been fixed by the Kerala-based HLL Lifecare Limited (formerly Hindustan Latex Limited), a PSU under the aegis of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. As the state government has procured the PPE kit as per Central guidelines, there is no irregularity,” the minister added.

Maintaining that the Opposition is trying to demoralise the Corona warriors, he challenged them to initiate a probe by the High Court or by any agency to ascertain the veracity of their claim.