MUMBAI, JAN 3: Confronted with escalating costs and dwindling financial reserves, the BMC may hike charges of ambulances being utilised by its hospitals. Although civic hospitals rent out ambulances at the rate of Rs 12 per hour, maintenance costs per vehicle can be as high as Rs 60 per hour, said civic sources. Although no formal decision has been taken on hiking the charges, the administration is seriously contemplating it.Civic health committee chairperson Sardar Tara Singh told Express Newsline that given the fact that the cash-strapped corporation was spending more on ambulances given their expenses, the hike is justified.
Sources said civic hospitals in the city have eight ambulances, while those in the western suburbs share five and the eastern suburbs four. In the process of transferring patients for referrals or check-ups to other hospitals, patients' relatives have to virtually bundle patient into taxis if ambulances are not there. Even seriously ill or orthopaedic patients who have tobe kept in a reclining position are brought in taxis, said doctors.
Singh also said the administration was open to private ambulance services if they reduce charges in tune with those of civic ambulance services. ``This is no move in the direction of privatising civic ambulance services. What happens is that if one ambulance is ferrying a patient, other patients are deprived of the services.'' said Singh.
1,500 toilets in slum colonies
As part of the BMC's programme to provide basic amenities to residents of slum colonies, 1,500 toilets will be constructed by the end of this year. A proposal to this effect, presented by the deputy municipal commissioner, was passed by the civic improvements committee recently.The construction of toilets has been divided into six phases, and cost of work for each phase is about Rs 1.25 crore. A Rs 2.75 crore budget provision has already been made for the year 1998-99. The remaining amount will be provided according to availability of funds.
According toofficers of the slum improvement department, tenders for construction were invited in August last year. According to them, rates quoted by the contractors are quite fair. Each contractor will be given only one work, so that it is executed speedily.
In most cases, these toilets will be constructed after demolishing the dilapidated ones which are lying unused. After the corporation took over the job of providing civic amenities to slums on state government land from the Mumbai Slum Improvement Board, it was found that most of the toilets were in a dilapidated condition. In the absence of space for new ones, it was decided the dilapidated ones should be demolished.
But the construction will be undertaken only where local residents come forward, form societies and take over responsibility of maintaining the toilets. They will also have to pay for water and electricity supply.
The contract period for completion of work is 12 months, including the monsoon. The BMC has been carrying out work of constructingtoilets in slums for the last 24 years on municipal and state government land.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
Printer-friendly page