AAP-Led Delhi Government Used Less Than 75 Per Cent Of Centre’s COVID-19 Funds: CAG Report

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, tabled in the Delhi Assembly on Friday (28 February) revealed that the erstwhile Aam Aadmi Party-led government utilised less than 75 per cent of the funds allocated by the Centre to tackle COVID-19, reported The Hindu.

According to the report, the Union government allocated Rs 787.91 crore to support Delhi’s COVID-19 response, but only Rs 582.84 crore was actually used.

The audit also examined the Delhi government’s track record in expanding healthcare infrastructure over the past few years.

It found that between 2016-17 and 2021-22, only three hospital projects were completed or extended, all of which had been initiated during the previous government’s tenure. 

The CAG noted delays of up to six years in these projects, with significant cost escalations compared to their originally tendered estimates.

The CAG report further highlighted a severe shortage of staff, hospital beds, and medical resources in Delhi government hospitals.

The report said that the bed occupancy rate ranges from 101 per cent to 189 per cent in nine hospitals, and from 109 per cent to 169 per cent in seven other hospitals, indicating that more than one patient was accommodated on single beds

Despite repeated budgetary announcements promising an addition of 32,000 hospital beds, only 4.25 per cent of this target was met, resulting in continued overcrowding in government hospitals.

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