RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, March 17: The matter of corruption in the liquor trade and poor service of 108 ambulances echoed in the Jharkhand assembly during the question hour today.
BJP’s Bokaro MLA Biranchi Narayan raised the issue of liquor saying that by February 15, 2022, the state government should have collected a revenue of Rs 1607 crore against its target of Rs 2500 crore in the financial year 2022-23.
Expressing concern over it, Narayan demanded a CBI probe into the matter that how come the excise department failed to achieve the target though the state government implemented the excise policy ignoring the eight objections of the revenue board and the Jharkhand governor.
Responding on behalf of the government, Minister Mithilesh Thakur took strong exception to the demand saying there is no illegality in the business and the policy was implemented after proper consideration of objections raised by the revenue department.
As independent legislator Saryu Roy listened to this he put a supplementary question asking whether the government has reduced the target to Rs 2000 crore from Rs 2500 crore. Minister Thakur said that the target has not been reduced but it has been decided that the shortfall in the target will be compensated by levying penalty on the Chhattisgarh-based company involved in the business.
As the minister replied, MLA Bhanu Pratap Shahi demanded the constitution of an assembly committee to get the matter investigated.
Meanwhile, the issue of 108 ambulances was raised by Congress MLA Irfan Ansari. Irfan said that patients are not getting any benefit from this. The government should cancel the 108 scheme and start a new system. Responding on behalf of the government, Health Minister Banna Gupta said that the service of 337 ambulances in the state is being provided through 108. Ambulances are also sent to other states if needed. 175 bike ambulances are approved in 2021-22. Their purchase is under process.
After the reply of the government, MLA Amar Bauri and Bhanu Pratap Shahi also raised the shortcomings of 108 ambulances. On this, the minister assured that all the shortcomings would be rectified.
