To provide relief to patients from the summer heat, 130 air coolers were installed at Ahmedabad’s Asarwa and Sola civil hospitals in May this year. The hospitals are managed by the Gujarat Medical and Education Research Society (GMERS). However, it was revealed that a total rent of ₹19.50 lakh was paid for these coolers in a single month.
In the April-May heat, the state health department ordered the installation of air coolers for patients admitted to government hospitals. The work was carried out by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).
Throughout the last week of May, around 80 jumbo air coolers were installed at Asarwa Civil Hospital and around 50 at Sola Civil Hospital.
Of these, an official list states that 70 air coolers were installed at Asarwa on a single day, May 27.
Sources suggest a daily rent of ₹505 was fixed for each air cooler as per the government directive (rate chart).
However, the rent for the 80 air coolers installed at Asarwa has exceeded ₹12 lakh, while the rent for the 50 air coolers installed at Sola has amounted to ₹7.50 lakh in a single month.
This has raised several queries regarding the timing of renting the air coolers, along with their hefty rents, the cost of which would be incurred by the exchequer.