The BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal in a recent announcement revealed that multiple laboratories in Mumbai took as many as 18 days to deliver swab reports related to coronavirus cases. The senior IAS officer had earlier taken over as commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation last month.
Chahal stated that said after he joined the post, he found that swab reports of April 4 were delivered on April 22. He further added that some labs were committing serious crimes by submitting reports almost 18 days later, adding that there should be severe punishment for this. The Chief of BMC also stated that this is unaccepted behaviour and will not be tolerated.
"I told them clearly that if you could not give me swab reports in 24 hours, you cannot function here in Mumbai. I cannot accept your reports after 15 to 16 days...you don't chew more than you digest," Chahal said to the media further adding that "I could test around 3,600 (per day) in Mumbai after testing guidelines were issued by the ICMR. Due to the guidelines of carrying out tests of only symptomatic patients, the total figure of testing came down,"
In the midst of the Coronavirus battle, Iqbal Singh Chahal took charge as the new Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner (BMC) last month. According to reports, the previous commissioner Pravin Pardeshi had been transferred to the Urban Development department as Additional Chief Secretary. Chahal happens to be a 1989 batch IAS of Maharashtra Cadre. He has served at the Centre during the UPA government on deputation. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation after coming under Chahal’s leadership directed only 75 per cent of its staff to report for work in Mumbai amid the rising number of novel coronavirus cases. The April 30 order which mandated compulsory attendance for all employees has been amended. Initially, the BMC was working at 50 per cent strength.
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