Himalaya Harbinger, Uttarakhand Bureau
Rudrapur,: A surprise inspection at a de-addiction and rehabilitation centre in Rudrapur on Saturday exposed several serious irregularities, prompting authorities to recommend further legal and administrative action.
The inspection was conducted at Ayraksha Nasha Mukti Evam Jansewa Trust, located in Doctors Colony, by a joint team comprising the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), the Tehsildar of Rudrapur and the Drug Inspector.
According to the inspection report, the centre had been granted provisional registration by the State Mental Health Authority, Uttarakhand, on November 30, 2023, for a period of one year. However, during the inspection, the management failed to produce any valid licence or registration document for the period after November 29, 2024, and could not provide a satisfactory explanation regarding its renewal status.
Officials also found that the de-addiction centre was operating in a three-storey building, with a paying guest facility functioning on one of the floors. The inspection team noted overcrowding inside the premises. Staff members informed the team that 48 residents were currently staying at the centre, while accommodation consisted of only one large hall and two small rooms. The rooms were reportedly poorly ventilated, and the available space was found inadequate for the number of occupants.
During inspection of the kitchen, officials recovered packets of salt that had crossed their expiry date. The items were confiscated by the Tehsildar for further proceedings.
The inspection report has been forwarded to the District Magistrate and the Chief Medical Officer of Udham Singh Nagar, with recommendations for action as per law.
