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CBI probe into health scam demanded

BHUBANESWAR: Former Health Minister Bijayshree Routray on Saturday demanded a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities committed in the implementation of the World Bank-funded Orissa Health Systems Development Project.

Mr. Routray, who was on Friday named as the former Minister who allegedly accepted a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs as bribe in the implementation of the multi-crore health project in 2005, said the mentioning of his name in the matter was ‘politically motivated’.

Rejecting vigilance inquiry ordered into the corruption involved in the implementation of the project at a press conference here, Mr. Routray challenged the government to hand over the matter to the CBI to investigate into the role of all politicians who served as Health Minister and officers who were associated with the implementation of the project.

The Rs. 415-crore health project was implemented in the State from 1998 to 2006. A sum of Rs 310 crore had been utilised due by the time the project was closed.

The Biju Janata Dal legislator said that CBI should probe the matter, as he had no faith in the Vigilance Department.

Mr. Routray further said he was also contemplating to move the court to protect his dignity and honour.

State Chief Secretary Ajit Kumar Tripathy had on Friday told presspersons that World Bank officials who visited the city had informed the Government saying it was Mr. Routray who accepted bribe from an agent in July 2005 when he was the Health Minister.

Meanwhile, workers of the opposition Congress staged protest demonstrations in different parts of the State demanding a CBI probe into the health project scam.

The Congress workers burnt the effigy of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to register their protest and demanded that action should be taken against all those who plundered money meant for the project.

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