AMC gets reimbursement of Rs 8.86 cr against claim of Rs 33 cr

Aurangabad, Jan 4:

Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will have to walk on a tight rope for its survival as against the claim of Rs 33 crore submitted to the state government as expenses made to control Coronavirus in the city, the civic body has received Rs 8.86 crore from the district collectorate, today (on Monday).

It may be noted that the state government had declared that the Disaster Management Authority would reimburse the expenses made while tackling the Covid-19 pandemic situation. Accordingly, the AMC submitted a claim of spending Rs 33 crore. It had spent the money on providing facilities including meals to suspects and patients admitted Quarantine Centres, Covid Care Centres, developing MHMH App, buying Thermal Guns, Oxymeters, operation of Task Force Committees, operation of Covid Control Room (24x7), establishing fever clinics, mobile squads, using Smart City buses as ambulances to transport patients etc. The AMC also spent on arranging beds and soaps for the patients during the initial days.

The AMC was pursuing to get the reimbursement for the past six months as it had procured the items during an emergency through various contractors. Meanwhile, the contractors are also making rounds of AMC''s health section for want of their payments. The district collector is the chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority. Hence the letter duly signed by the collector Sunil Chavan stated that the amount of Rs 8.86 crore is being released to AMC.

The AMC will utilise the fund to pay Rs 17.57 lakh to contractors providing meals to patients in Covid Care Centres and Quarantine Centres; Rs 65 lakh as the salary of health employees; Rs 25 lakh to agencies against the purchase of various kits; Rs 10 lakh to hotels for making lodging arrangements of doctors and health personnel; Rs 50 lakh are miscellaneous expenses, etc, said the sources.