Trade unions urge the Union Minister to abandon the present hospital project, and punish the guilty officers who favored Ajeenkya DY Patil in Rs. 693 CR MbPA Mumbai Hospital Scam
The attempt of Ajeenkya DY Patil Infra Pvt. Limited and Zodiac Healotronics Pvt. Ltd. to encroach upon the premises of Mumbai Port Authority Hospital got failed as the Bombay High Court in their recent order disposed the WRIT petition filed by these two companies and rejected their plea to occupy the place in Mumbai Port Authority Hospital for its office and equipment.
Mumbai Port Authority stated before the Bombay High Court that the issue as to the capacity of Zodiac Healotronics Pvt. Ltd. to undertake project of establishment of 600 bedded Super Specialty Hospital with an option to develop a Medical College at Mumbai Port Authority Hospital, on PPP basis has been referred to the High Powered Committee constituted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and that these two companies cannot have entered into the premises of the Mumbai Port Authority hospital until and unless the report of the High Powered Committee is received and the appropriate decision is taken on the report. It has been stated that it would be unwise to hand over the 10-acre land and property situated in Wadala worth Rs. 367 Crores (Actual value more than INR 1200CR) of Mumbai Port Authority to Zodiac Healotronics Pvt. Ltd. which has no investment capacity as well as financial and technical qualification to undertake the project worth Rs. 693 Crores.
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In the meantime, two recognized unions operating in the Mumbai Port Authority have requested Sarbananda Sonowal, the Cabinet Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to advise the High-Powered Committee to consider the representations submitted by these unions and hear these unions before concluding its report. It has been informed to the Minister that the opinion of the practicing company secretary and of the senior advocate obtained by Mumbai Port Authority in the matter make it clear that to proceed with the Concession Agreement with Zodiac Healotronics Pvt. Ltd. on the basis of faulty ‘Financial Model’ and ‘Financial Close’ would be against the public policy governing the Public Private Partnership Project (PPP) projects and that a Concessionaire i.e. Zodiac Healotronics Pvt. Ltd. has committed a breach of the terms and conditions of the Concession Agreement and that Board of Mumbai Port Authority in its meeting held on 18.10.2022 has taken a conscious and unanimous decision for taking the corrective steps in the matter to certain extent by passing the Resolution No.175 dated 18.10.2022 and that MbPA has to terminate the Concession Agreement in the interest of port.
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The High-Powered Committee has been informed of the said Resolution. It has been also complained to the Minister that the Committee heard the Concessionaire on a number of occasions, but ignored to hear these unions, which are also stakeholders of the industry. It has been apprehended that the whole conduct on the part of the Committee has given a rise to suspicion. These trade unions have decided to continue the struggle against the corrupt practices that have takem place in the matter of awarding the contract and signing the concession agreement with unqualified companies.
The link of these corrupt practices in the project begins from the wrong decisions taken by Sanjay Bhatia (IAS), the then Chairman and Dr. Annadurai, the then Chief Medical Officer of Mumbai Port Authority. The thousands of port workers and pensioners are being deprived of super specialty facilities in its own hospital as the project is delayed by more than four years and the concerned authorities have failed to terminate the contract awarded to Ajeenkya DY Patil Infra Pvt. Limited and the Concession Agreement signed with its unit Zodiac Healotronics Pvt. Ltd. despite the glaring illegalities in the matter.
Maharashtra Varta’s ‘Research Journalism Cell’ which was the first to open the topic two years back has been following up the case vigilantly. The comprehensive report on its truthful fact findings in the matter would be revealed by Maharashtra Varta very soon in the public interest. The truth must prevail. It is hoped that the Minister would take a decision judiciously and transparently so that the fresh tender would be issued for the upgradation of the Mumbai Port Authority Hospital for the benefit of thousands of workers and pensioners.
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अजिंक्य डी. वाय. पाटील इन्फ्रा आणि झोडीयाक हीलोन्ट्रोनिक्स कंपनीला मुंबई पोर्ट ट्रस्ट कडून धक्का
