Odisha Govt Spent Over Rs 367 Cr For Setting Up Temporary Health Centres During COVID, Says Minister

Bhubaneswar: As an urgent measure to combat COVID-19, the state government had spent more than Rs 367 crore for setting up temporary centres across Odisha.

This was stated by Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Minister Pradip Amat in a written reply to questions by Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The temporary COVID care and isolation centres were set up in panchayats and blocks of all 30 districts at a cost of Rs 367,71,91,720. The expenditure included Rs 157,00,14,277 for procuring equipment, Amat said.

Giving districtwise expenditure, the minister said highest allotment of Rs 48,58,49,151 was made for Ganjam which was the hotspot of the disease. It included Rs 9,30,30,750 worth of equipment for the centres. Kendrapada accounted for second highest expenditure of Rs 41,89,47,139 including Rs 14,21,96,179 for equipment.

The minister further said after the pandemic receded, the government, in an official letter, had directed the district administration to reuse the equipment in schools, hostels and block and panchayat levels. They were told to keep the equipment stored in panchayat offices.