AIIMS spent Rs 42 lakh on renovation of its chief’s residence

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Government’s premier medical institution, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) had spent a whopping over Rs 42 lakh on the renovation work for the bungalow of its director R.C. Deka in 2009-10, the year he took over as its chief.

Information received under the Right to Information (RTI) Act shows major renovation work was undertaken for the bungalows of director, deputy director, dean, medical superintendent and senior financial advisor in which Rs 73.6 lakh were spent.

The maximum expenditure, about 57 per cent of the total, was incurred on the renovation work of bungalow of the director that was over Rs 42.13 lakh, RTI response given to activist Subhash Agrawal shows.

“There were no such guidelines provided during the time of renovation of the above mentioned flats/bungalows,” AIIMS said in response to a query whether the funds for said renovations spent according to rules.

On the question of information on rules for providing facilities and funds on renovation of residential accommodation, the engineering services department of AIIMS said, “No such rules was existing (sic) at the time of renovation of residential accommodations.”

The data provided shows that between 2006-07 to 2010-11 the expenditure on director’s bungalow was incurred only in 2009-10.

Five renovation related works that were undertaken by Civil Division-I on which Rs 10.10 lakh was spent while Civil Division-II spent Rs 32.02 lakh for eight works undertaken during the period.

Deka who held position of dean of the AIIMS and also the head of ENT department was appointed as director of the institute on March 10, 2009.