Thiruvananthapuram: In a setback for the LDF Government, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has found irregularities in the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits during the COVID-19 period, leading to an additional liability of ₹10.23 crore.

The CAG report reveals that the government paid 300% more than the market rate for the PPE kits. According to the findings, the government made purchases at higher prices compared to public market rates, a lapse occurring during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government’s tenure when the pandemic struck.

The report, presented in the legislative assembly, states that five companies had quoted prices ranging from ₹800 to ₹1,550 for the kits. The government, considering the special circumstances of the time, had allowed relaxations in the tendering process, resulting in a rate of ₹545 per unit, which was set in March 2020. One company had offered to supply the PPE kits for ₹550 each, and the Kerala Medical Services Corporation had pledged to buy 25,000 kits from them. However, only an order for 10,000 kits was placed.

A month later, the government moved away from this company and instead purchased a large number of kits from other companies at higher rates, ranging from ₹800 to ₹1,550. This switch led to an additional ₹10.23 crore liability for the state, as per the CAG report.