Auditors smell scam in civic body
Grant of building permits in municipality
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-10-19 05:06 GMT
Kochi: The local fund audit wing has detected financial irregularities to the tune of Rs 17-cr in the Thrikkakara municipality during the financial year 2011-12. The irregularities were mainly noticed in granting permission for building permits in the area, sources said. Kakkanad, one of the most sought after place for real estate development, comes under the jurisdiction of Thrikkakkara municipality.
PI Mohammadali former chairman of the municipality however denied reports that local fund audit had unearthed massive financial irregularities. “The local fund audit has only submitted a draft and final report is yet to be prepared”, he said.Blaming present rulers of the municipality, Mohammadali said the rulers have not submitted the files sought by the auditors. The auditors sought around 245-250 files, but authorities concerned have provided less than 20 files, he said.
On allegations of files missing, Mohammadali said the chances for the displacement or missing of files are quite remote as the municipal secretary is the custodian of files. Gijo Chingamthara, a member of the municipal council belonging to the Socialist Janata Party and an ally of the ruling UDF said irregularities mentioned in the report needed to be probed further. Files mentioned missing in the report needed to be recovered before making any comment on veracity of the report, he said.
Most files linked with the irregularities mentioned in the report are missing, said another member. The missing files contained details of financial reliefs granted to various real estate projects, he said. Financial reliefs running to crores have been granted to such projects, he added.