PANAJI: Taking strong objection to the handing over of an area admeasuring 10,000 square metre and located at Bambolim to an Israel-based holding company, Elbit India Hospitals Ltd, on 60-year lease for construction of a 150/200-bedded super speciality hospital,

the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday said that as per the national Planning Commission, government should not hand over any land on lease to a party, but do the same on licence basis since under licence the legal possession of land continues with the government, while lease is direct transfer of property as per  the law. 
The leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar also questioned the experience of the said company in hospital sector further pointing out that the major share of income of the company is through arms. He also questioned the rationale behind selecting the company for the super speciality hospital project under public-private partnership model.
The BJP also demanded to know the reason for selection of an Israeli company for the purpose when Goan doctors are opening hospitals in private sector.
The Health Minister, Mr Vishwajeet Rane maintained that the company was in the process of setting up three hospitals in India, but has set up hospitals in Israel.
He also informed that the estimated expenditure for the first phase of the proposed super speciality hospital is expected to be ` 120 crore.
Grilling the Health Minister on the issue, the Fatorda MLA said that ` 120 crore exactly comes to ` 2 crore per year, if the 60-year lease period is considered, which is not profitable to the government.
It was further informed that the EIHL has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the government and the work of the super speciality hospital is expected to be started next month.  
Speaking further, the leader of the opposition said that the 15 per cent equity stake of the government in the hospital project is a disastrous proposition, and for controlling the general body of any agency, company, organisation, the government should have minimum 26 per cent share so as to have a vetting power.
He also said that the consultant agency appointed for the project is paid consultancy fees by the EIHL and hence it would be faithful to the company and not government.
The Health Minister assured the House to examine all the issues in the MoU, stating that the consultant agency was selected before he took over the health portfolio.