A surprise inspection at Palitana Government Hospital in Bhavnagar district has uncovered alleged irregularities involving the construction of an underground water tank. The 2.55-lakh-litre tank, which had been approved for the hospital, was found to be incomplete or missing despite a bill worth Rs 50.43 lakh having been submitted to the health department’s head office for approval. The discovery has prompted the state government to initiate action against officials and the contractor involved in the project.

Gujarat Health Minister Praful Pansaria conducted the inspection and took serious note of the discrepancies. The inspection reportedly found that the infrastructure mentioned in the official project records did not match what was physically available at the hospital. The submitted bill of Rs 50.43 lakh raised further questions over how payment-related documentation could have been processed when the approved underground water tank had not been constructed as required.

Following the inspection, the minister ordered action against two engineers associated with the project. Engineers Mehul Dave and N V Kalia have been ordered to face suspension and disciplinary proceedings over alleged dereliction of duty. A police complaint has also been ordered against the officials as part of the government’s response to the findings. The action is aimed at determining responsibility for the discrepancies and examining whether established procedures were violated.

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The government is also preparing to take action against the contractor responsible for the work. Authorities are considering blacklisting the contractor if the allegations are established through the investigation. The move indicates that the government intends to examine not only the role of departmental officials but also the execution and billing process associated with the project.

The incident has raised concerns about monitoring and verification of public infrastructure projects at government healthcare facilities. Underground water storage systems can be important for hospitals because a reliable water supply is essential for patients, medical staff, sanitation and other daily operations. The discovery at Palitana Government Hospital has therefore brought attention to the need for physical verification of completed works before bills are cleared.

The authorities are now expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Rs 50.43 lakh bill, the status of the approved tank and the responsibilities of the officials and contractor involved. Further action will depend on the findings of the departmental and police inquiries. The Gujarat government’s response, including the proposed suspension, disciplinary proceedings and possible contractor blacklisting, reflects the seriousness with which the alleged irregularities are being treated.

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