Mumbai rat-bite case: BMC trying to shield agency, alleges AAP

The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Mumbai unit has alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tried to shield a private agency that was in charge of running the intensive care unit (ICU) at civic-run Rajawadi Hospital, where an incident of a rat biting a 24-year-old patient was reported 10 days ago

Published on: Jul 1, 2021, 24:05:21 IST

By Mehul R Thakkar, Mumbai

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The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Mumbai unit has alleged that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) tried to shield a private agency that was in charge of running the intensive care unit (ICU) at civic-run Rajawadi Hospital, where an incident of a rat biting a 24-year-old patient was reported 10 days ago.

AAP’s Mumbai unit has alleged that the agency responsible for operating the ICU is owned by the daughter of a former BMC officer who is also a civic employee as of date.

AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon said, “We demanded action against the agency, but were surprised when both the dean and mayor, quickly absolved them of all blame and laid it on “administration”. Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar and dean of Rajawadi Hospital Dr Vidya Thakur are deliberately trying to shield the agency.”

The AAP alleged that in the case of Rajawadi Hospital, the agency that provides intensivists for the 21 ICU beds, belongs to the daughter of a retired medical superintendent. The AAP further alleged that the daughter is also an employee of the BMC. However, the BMC has not commented on the issue.

Menon added, “During the pandemic, another 10 beds were added, and the same agency was given the contract, without a new tender and at a new inflated rate of ₹3,800 per bed, per day. Healthcare is one of the BMC’s primary responsibilities, and the civic administration cannot abdicate it by any means whatsoever.”

However, the BMC in a statement has denied all allegations and said that none of the BMC employees have been given the contract. The BMC in a statement said, “Due process of tendering has been followed in awarding the contract for operations of ICU beds. The BMC administration has taken serious note of this matter and immediately constituted a three-member committee and the proceedings in this regard are now in the final stage. Action will be taken against the concerned as per the recommendations made by this committee.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mehul R Thakkar
Mehul R Thakkar is a Mumbai-based journalist who closely tracks the city’s ever-evolving real estate landscape. He believes that Mumbai presents a unique reality that, while Mumbaikars deeply aspire to own a home in the city of dreams, many spend little actual time living in it due to long commutes and demanding work lives. With over 11 years of experience in journalism, I have reported across a wide spectrum of beats, including real estate, housing, infrastructure, aviation, and education. I have also extensively covered the workings of India’s wealthiest civic body, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), providing insight into the policy, governance, and urban planning decisions that directly influence Mumbai’s growth. Before joining Hindustan Times, I worked in fast-paced digital and print newsrooms, including Moneycontrol.com and Deccan Chronicle, as well as national dailies such as The Asian Age and DNA. Outside the newsroom, I am an avid weather tracker, a fan of spy thrillers in both books and films, and a keen follower of international affairs.Read More

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