Patna: High Court Probes Hospital Procurement Scam, Rohini Returns to Lalu, Ganga Water Metro Advances
Patna this week saw the High Court direct the Bihar government to answer allegations of inflated prices for hospital supplies, a notable political family reunion, and major progress on a water metro project along the Ganga. Each story reflects the city's active civic and political life.
🗳️ Patna HC orders state to answer hospital dustbin procurement scam
The Patna High Court has sought a response from the Bihar government over what has been termed a 'dustbin scam' involving the purchase of plastic dustbins for biomedical waste management in government hospitals. The court directed the state government to file an affidavit explaining the procurement of dustbins and garbage bags for hospitals, which were allegedly bought at prices roughly ten times the prevailing market rate. The case was reported by Dev Raj and brought to the court's attention by ETV Bharat. Plastic dustbins of different sizes are at the center of the controversy, with questions raised about how public health funds were spent. The High Court's directive signals growing judicial scrutiny of government procurement processes in Bihar. Biomedical waste management is a critical public health function, making the alleged inflation of supply costs particularly concerning. The state government will now need to justify its procurement decisions before the court with a sworn affidavit. The 'dustbin scam' adds to a broader pattern of accountability questions surrounding government spending on hospital infrastructure in Bihar. [1]
🗳️ Rohini Acharya returns to Patna after eleven months away from Lalu's family
Rohini Acharya, the daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, has returned to Patna after an absence of nearly eleven months, drawing considerable attention in Bihar's political circles. Her homecoming was notable for the conspicuous absence of her brother Tejashwi Yadav, who was not present at the airport to welcome her back. Some time back, Rohini had expressed a clear desire to distance herself from her family and from politics entirely. Her return to Patna came at her father's direct request, suggesting that Lalu Prasad Yadav personally reached out to bring her home. The airport reunion became a topic of discussion given the family's central role in Bihar's political landscape. Tejashwi Yadav's absence from the airport was widely noted as a significant detail in this family episode. Rohini's earlier public statements had signaled tensions within the Yadav political family and its inner circle. Her return may mark a fresh chapter both in family dynamics and in the wider political story of the RJD in Bihar. [5]
🏢 Patna's Ganga Water Metro project to get Rs 200-crore cruise terminals before 2029
Patna's proposed Water Metro project on the Ganga is moving ahead with plans for two river cruise terminals at Kangan Ghat and Pahalwan Ghat. The two facilities are estimated to cost around Rs 200 crore and are expected to be completed before 2029, forming a key part of the city's planned river transport network. The state government has allotted two acres each at Kangan Ghat and Pahalwan Ghat to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Patna, for developing the terminals. The facilities will allow cruise vessels carrying tourists to berth along the Ganga and are expected to support employment in tourism, transport, hospitality, and other allied sectors. At Kangan Ghat, the terminal will be linked to a 150-metre pontoon in the Ganga through a gangway passing beneath J P Ganga Path. The project is intended to offer residents and visitors a new mode of river-based travel in the Bihar capital. The development represents a significant investment in Patna's waterfront infrastructure and tourism potential. Completion before 2029 sets a firm timeline for this landmark addition to the city's transport and tourism landscape. [6]
Sources: [1] ETV Bharat · [5] The New Indian Express · [6] Swarajya