I have nothing to do with the scam: Ghadhei

Bhubaneswar,Jan 19 (UNI) Orissa Finance Minister Prafulla Chandra Ghadhei today said he had nothing to do with the health scam as alleged by the opposition.

NCP Leaders Amar Satpathy,Anadi Sahu and Kulamani Deo told mediapersons here that the Detailed Implementation Review(DIR) on the Orissa Health System Development Project (OHSDP) prepared by the World Bank alleged that equipment purchased under the scheme were sub standard and a minister was paid 20 per cent to clear the bill of the cost of equipment worth Rs 25 lakh.

They said the Rs 415 crore project was launched in Orissa in September 1998 but the major expenditure relating to building and purchase of equipment was made during 2001- 2005 when present Finance Minister P C Ghadei was the Health Minister.

The NCP leaders also demanded that criminal cases be instituted against all those, including the minister, involved in the scam.

They alleged that Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was trying to shield the minister by announcing a three member fact finding team headed by the Chief Secretary to investigate and submit a report within three months.

Mr Ghadhei said everything would be reviewed after inquiry. He said five firms involved in the project were selected through global tender and all payments and disbursements were made by the Project Director.

'' I have nothing to do with it. In addition to it my name was not mentioned in the report,'' he said, adding that the report was not prepared by the World Bank but by an independent committee.

UNI BD ADG AKM SYU AS1903