The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Chemicals and Fertilisers has come down heavily on the government for failing to formulate new strategies to attain optimum utilization of the funds and revival of Central Research Institute (CRI), Kasauli and BCG Vaccine Laboratory, Guindy.

“The reply of the Ministry is deafeningly silent about main recommendation of the Committee. The Committee reiterates its earlier recommendation and desires that strategies be formulated to ensure optimum utilisation of funds under this above head. The Committee desires to be apprised of the details of the progress made towards making the sera and vaccine manufacturing units GMP compliant and operational,” a recent action taken report by the panel said.

Detailing the actions taken on the earlier recommendations by the panel, the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) said in CRI, Kasauli, an amount of Rs.2.2 crore was kept for purchase of 6 R Glass vials used for filling of the vaccines but procurement could not be made in time. “Rs.70 lakh was kept for purchase of rubber stoppers and despite going for open tender, no bids were received. Rs.1.95 crore was kept for VVM labels. However, procurement could not be finalized. In addition to this, some funds were kept for procurement as well as repair/maintenance of various equipments. However, these could not be procured due to various reasons of furnishing of inappropriate technical specification by the user department and also non receipt of sufficient number of bids,” it said.

“Further, the job of construction of roof -top rain water harvesting structure was awarded to IPH Department of Himachal Pradesh and was supposed to be completed within one year, but due to Legislative Assembly Election and enforcement of code of conduct in the State, tender process could not be finalized by the IPH Deptt. in time. Hence the payment could not be made,” it said.

“In addition to this, some funds were allocated for purchase of Machinery & Equipments for Anti Sera Division, Yellow Fever Division and Quality Control Division at the Institute but could not be procured due to non-receipt of appropriate bids. The upgraded vaccine manufacturing facility at the Institute is expected to function shortly in full capacity and at that time funds will be utilized optimally and in a planned way,” the department said.

“As far as BCGVL, Guindy is concerned, due to non-procurement of Vaccine Vial Monitor for Rs.1.00 crore, non-procurement of vial caps, aluminium seal, funds allocated in R.E. stage could not be utilized optimally. An amount of Rs.2.03 crore sanctioned under Plan Capital head could not be spent for want of approval in time. Further, certain civil work to be done by CPWD in BCG staff quarters amounting to Rs.73 lakh was not taken up due to delay in submission of estimates and pending approval and expenditure sanction from Dte.GHS. Thus, the funds could not be utilized optimally,” the action taken report said.