Varapuzha: The much-hyped green medical ambulance and floating dispensary, constructed at considerable expense for Kadamakkudy panchayat, remains unused and anchored at the Bolgatty boatyard.

The solar-powered medical boat, touted as the first of its kind in the country, was inaugurated last month by Minister P Rajeev with much fanfare. Built at a cost of around ₹1 crore, the project was funded by Unifeeder as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. During the inauguration, MLA K N Unnikrishnan had said that the boat was equipped with comprehensive medical facilities, including provisions for inpatient care.

However, the boat has not been used even for a single day since the inauguration. Within days, it was quietly shifted to the Bolgatty yard, where it has remained docked, triggering widespread criticism.

The floating medical facility was envisioned to provide easier access to healthcare for the elderly and isolated residents of the Kadamakkudy region. The existing service, which has been operational for years, provides consultations with doctors and nurses and distributes medicines across various jetties in the panchayat. This service is currently operating on a contract basis with funding from the block panchayat.

Critics allege that the new boat was constructed and inaugurated without informing the block panchayat, even though the contract for the existing service had not yet expired. The premature inauguration and immediate relocation of the new ambulance have also led to suspicions of procedural lapses and potential corruption.

Responding to the controversy, the panchayat governing committee stated that the vessel was moved to the yard to rectify some minor manufacturing defects. They assured that the boat will become operational in August, once the contract for the existing medical boat concludes.