Satyam led EMRI continue operations despite scam

Claiming the Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI) as a "completely independent entity" from Satyam Computers, a top official of the non-profit organisation floated by former Satyam Computers Chief Ramalinga Raju, today said it will continue its operations "without any hitch" despite the scam.

"EMRI is a completely independent entity. Satyam is only the technology partner for us. There is no transaction between Satyam and EMRI. We can continue our operations independent of who owns Satyam," EMRI CEO Venkat Changavalli said here.

Besides Andhra Pradesh, EMRI currently runs its popular '108' emergency ambulances service in eight other states where it runs over 1600 ambulances and attends to about 10,000 emergency calls on an average every day.

While states bear 95 per cent of operational costs, the remaining five per cent are borne by EMRI. Changavalli claimed that all the state governments have agreed to extend support, even financially, to run the EMRI ambulance services in their states.

He said he would look for donors, either individuals or entities, who can contribute about Rs six crore per month to meet the cost to be borne by the EMRI.

"The Institute has net assets of Rs 51 crore and a loan of Rs 43 crore was taken from Axis Bank. Ramalinga Raju stood as guarantor for the loan and the Bank has now asked for the replacement of the guarantor which will be done soon," he said.

Former President A P J Abdul Kalam and several other high-profile members of EMRI board have recently resigned in the wake of the Rs 7,800-crore Satyam scam.

Besides Changavalli, the EMRI board presently has four members including Rajat Gupta of Indian Business School, Prof Raj Reddy, a US-based software expert, Krishnam Raju, an industrialist, and Lok Satta party founder Jayaprakash Narayan.

The board would meet on January 20 and may induct some new members, Changavalli said, adding that there was no proposal from any body to take over the entity.

Replying to a query, he said he would request Kalam to join the board again.