Chandigarh, May 5: With Government hospitals in the statefailing to kickstart the process of vaccinating people in 18-44 age group dueto non-availability of vaccine doses, Punjab Chief Minister Captain AmarinderSingh on Wednesday directed the Health Department to explore all options forthe supply of vaccination.
Though the state government had made payment of Rs 10.37crore to Serum Institute of India (SII) for procurement of around 30 lakh doseson April 26, no schedule for supply had so far been received from them, HealthSecretary Hussan Lal informed the state cabinet during a virtual meetingchaired by the Chief Minister.
Only some private hospitals, which had placed direct ordersfor vaccination, had commenced the process of vaccinating the 18-44 population,the meeting was informed. For the state government, SII has only indicated thatthe availability of Covishield will be known in about four weeks’ time, headded.
The meeting was informed that in the circumstances,vaccination in 18-44 age group could not be launched in government hospitals,nor was there any clarity on when the process could begin.
Meanwhile, the cabinet approved one-time relaxation inPunjab Village Common Lands (Regulation) Rules, 1964 for transfer of 5 acres ofPanchayat land in Mohali to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) forestablishment of National Institute ofVirology for North Zone. The Institute has been sanctioned by the centralgovernment on a proposal by the Punjab government.
The cabinet authorized DC Mohali to complete all necessaryformalities for transfer of the land in village Mullanpur Garibdas in blockKharar in district SAS Nagar (Mohali). Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan saidconstruction for the institute would start by the end of this year.
Notably, there is no provision in the Punjab Village CommonLands (Regulation) Rules, 1964 for gifting panchayat land to the CentralGovernment, but Section 21 of the General Clauses Act, 1897 provides that thepower to make rules includes the power to amend or relax the rules.
The cabinet noted that the institute will be for the welfareof the inhabitants of Punjab, the cabinet noted. It further stressed that theinstitute would of vital importance in view of the pandemic.