The government’s inability to pay for the Emerg-ency 108 service could result in the emergency service shutting down in the next 24 hours, endangering the lives of thousands of citizens.

A state-wide strike is im-minent as nearly 200 amb-ulances go off the roads from Friday. Of the 752 am-bulances, 450 are already not functioning because they are in need of repairs or fuel and don’t have the money to pay for either.

The agreement between the service provider GVK and the government was renewed on October 1, and the quarterly budget of Rs 21.43 crore was to be released immediately. But to date only `4 crore has been released.

Explaining the financial situation, a 108 source said, “Since the last eight months, there has been a delay on an average of 47 days in paying salaries to 3,500 employees. The sal-ary bill comes to `4 crore per month.”

The source details other appalling delays.

“The file requiring the signature of the commissioner of family welfare couldn’t be sent to the finance department as for the last three weeks, the commissioner, who is facing a CBI enquiry and arrest, was away. The amb-ulances are in a pathetic state. Since these issues are not being addressed, the employees are contemplating going on a strike.”

Not much credence is being given to the recent government order about releasing Rs 12 crore and setting up a procurement committee for ambulances and other medical equipment. “It is also likely to remain on paper going by the fiasco in the department,” the source said.

The government’s resp-onse has been casual to say the least. Health minister Dr D.L. Ravindra Reddy said that he has received no communication about the 108 strike, but admitted, “Krishnan Raju of GVK-EMRI has communicated to our special chief secretary, G. Sudhir, that the ambulance services are going to be disrupted if funds are not released towards payment of salaries.”

And what is the government doing to avert the strike? Nothing, apparently. “Once someone is put in the post of commissioner of family welfare, things can be sorted out,” the minister said.

DC