Rane opts out of Mapusa PPP panel after rigging charges

Panaji, Feb 3 (PTI) Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Ranetoday stepped down as Chairman of the Monitoring Committee forthe public-private partnership of Mapusa district hospitalhere, after facing charges that the PPP process was "rigged".

Rane told reporters during the lunch break of assemblysession that he has opted out of the Committee constituted tomonitor the implementation of PPP for district hospital inMapusa, minutes after the session was adjourned for lunch.

The State Health Secretary will replace Rane in thiscrucial Committee.

Earlier, Opposition benches walked into the well of theHouse claiming that the process to implement PPP for thegovernment district hospital was rigged.

Leader of Opposition in Goa Legislative Assembly ManoharParrrikar claimed that the rule book was not followed by theminister raising questions on the entire process. "The entirePPP process is rigged," he told PTI.

The Opposition created noisy scenes in the House duringthe question hour forcing the speaker to adjourn it. The BJPmen were supported by ruling Congress legislator DayanandNarvekar, who is also a former Health Minister.

During the lunch break, Rane held a meeting with seniorgovernment officials announcing his departure from theCommittee, which will take ahead the process of finalising thebidder for the PPP.

Rane said he will also re-float the tender invitingbidders for this hospital project in North Goa.

"Now, I am out of the Committee to decide the bidder.

Its for the monitoring committee to meet the deadline," theminister said responding to a query.

The Asilo Hospital in Mapusa has been treating 2.10 lakhpatients in its out patient departments. .

Rane said the Bombay High Court (Goa bench) has already setup the deadline of March 31, 2011 to start all thefacilities in this hospital.

He said that all the super speciality services would bemade available at this district hospital once a private partyis wooed in under the PPP mode.

Parrikar said the Appraisal Committee constituted forthis project was headed by minister himself, which is againstthe convention.

He said although PPP is conceived for super specialityservices, the regular services were also being given to theprivate party. He said this was an attempt to privatise thefunctioning of government-run district hospital.