The 17-member committee, which included both health minister Partha De and family welfare minister Minati Ghosh, headed by chairman Dr Gauri Pada Dutta, has severely censured the state Health department for the `mal-utilisation of funds, if not delinquency' that come for the `externally-aided health projects.'

The report, which can be read as a long tirade, said in its previous recommendations, `the committee agreed that the state may accept the World Bank's assistance to revitalise and reorganise the curative services from the block level to the District Hospitals'.

The committeerepeatedly insisted that before implementation of the World Bank Loan Project a proper evaluation of buildings, equipment and manpower be done. During the discussion, the report noted, both the committee and the department and the project officials also agreed on maintaining certain basic rules while implementing these projects.

But, despite this agreement, the report felt it `is constrained to note that after about four years of agreement with the externally aided agency, the recommendation of the Committee has not been implemented in an adequate manner.'

More galling, the report said, is that the popular expectation, which `this loan' gave rise to, `has been belied uptil now. There was no impact of this externally aided project on the people and also on the functioning of the health care delivery of the state. On the other hand, it has become a source of mal-utilisation of the fund if not delinquency.'

The report said the mess-up was so deep that `the entire project has become a matter of ridicule toall concerned, except the project authorities.' Giving a warning that `the danger of wrong indoctrination looms large over our head, and unless proper precaution is taken,' the Health department will `face disaster,' the committee said.