No nod for Covid lab; Godda MP slams govt

Dumka: Godda BJP MP Nishikant Dubey criticised the state government on Monday, after the Deoghar administration denied permission to a proposed Covid-19 testing facility in the temple town.
Speaking from Delhi over the phone, he said, “I fail to understand what prompted the authorities to suddenly take a U-turn at the last moment. The government should expedite the project and not put hurdles, as we need to speed up our testing rate.”
The civil work for the lab, which is being jointly developed by Fortis Hospital and SRL Lab, was about to start. The district administration denied permission to the lab at sadar hospital stating that the site is inappropriate for the project.
Deoghar deputy commissioner Nancy Sahay said, “The venue of the proposed laboratory at Deoghar sadar hospital had to be changed as the building is not in a good shape. Also, we were yet to receive the NOC from the state government regarding the lab.”
The testing lab will now come up at a rented premises in Jasidih.
Notably, a proposed lab at Dumka Medical College and Hospital, too, is hanging in the balance. So authorities here have to depend on PMCH in Dhanbad or other testing labs in Ranchi or Jamshedpur for Covid-19 reports, thereby leading to delays. Around 1,000 persons from Dumka alone are awaiting their Covid reports from PMCH in Dhanbad.