Mangalore: Govt Hospital lends space for car trading

TNN

Mangalore, 12 December 2010: Can a government office premises be given free of cost to a private company for display purpose?

 

The district government Wenlock Hospital here has taken its ’private-public partnership’ model too seriously and has given a small portion of the parking premises at the hospital to a private car showroom for displaying vehicles, that too free of cost, for two days.

 

Dr Saroja, in-charge medical superintendent, Wenlock, admitted to TOI that she had given permission for the dealer for display purposes, but said it was only temporary. The display was seen on Friday and it was on even on Saturday. "Why cant it be done? Its temporary. Last year also, we had given for a two wheeler dealer display space. It will help the hospital staff who wants to buy a vehicle," she quipped when asked whether there is such a provision.

 

How much rental was charged for extending the courtesy? "It’s temporary, so its free," she said adding that permanent provisions are done through tender. "We charge if anybody wants to use the hospital hall," she added. Deputy commissioner Subodh Yadav said he was not aware of the provisions and asked the correspondent to revert back to the in-charge medical superintendent on this issue.

 

The governing committee member and Mangalore City South MLA Yogish Bhat fumed. "It cannot be done. There are restrictions and I will speak to the resident medical officer," he said.

 

Usually vehicle display to promote a product is kept at private hotels where there is ample parking space or at the bank premises, which finance the vehicles. A hotel here rents out space for three vehicle display space for Rs 4,000 per day.

 

A senior doctor said parking space in government hospitals is not even given to private ambulances and this was uncalled for. "If rental was charged and put into user fee account, it could be overlooked. But giving it free of cost is a crime," the doctor added.