[Exclusive] Delay in another Covid-related project of BMC, genome sequencing lab to take more time to start – Times Now

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (File photo)  |  Photo Credit: IANS

Mumbai: As per the experts, the 03rd wave of Coronavirus is likely to hit Mumbai and Maharashtra by July mid-week. But as far as the preparations for it are concerned, BMC has a list of delayed projects.

Setting up of a genome sequencing lab is one such project. BMC announced this Rs 12 cr project two months ago. It will be set up in Kasturba hospital. This decision happened after various experts, including the members of the state Covid task force pointing out the need of one such lab since last year. It was said that the lab will be functional by June end.

But this promise is far from being fulfilled. As per BMC, the lab machine (Next seq) is stuck in Singapore and this cargo issue is causing the delay. As per BMC, the machine is being brought from the US and because of Covid related situation, the machine is stuck in cargo in Singapore. BMC is expecting that they will receive the machine by the end of the week.

But that won't be all. Even after receiving the machine, BMC has to conduct trial runs, BMC will then have to write to the Central govt to approve the lab. The Central govt will send a deputation for testing of the lab to give it approval. And only after all this clearance, the lab will be functional.

BMC is claiming that all this will happen in the next 7-10 days. But the opposition parties in the corporation are claiming that the speed at which things are happening, the lab won't be functional for another 03 weeks.

The significance of this lab has increased by many folds since the cases of Delta plus variant are found in the state. Now all the samples have to be sent to NIV, Pune and it takes 02-03 months to get the report. The Delta plus cases were also of April month. With this lab, the reports will be available in 02-03 days and it will help the authorities in rapid screening and contact tracing. But the city will have to wait for some more weeks for this lab.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani told Mirror Now that, "The machine is in Singapore cargo as of now. We are expecting to get it this week and the lab should be functional in a week after that."

Ravi Raja, Congress, Opposition leader BMC, told Mirror Now that, "This is happening because of the lack of seriousness in BMC officials. Many such projects are delayed because of this approach of BMC."

3) Reporter toss

4) Shots of Kasturba hospital

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[Exclusive] Delay in another Covid-related project of BMC, genome sequencing lab to take more time to start - Times Now