Kochi corporation flayed for poor Plan Fund use

KOCHI: With four months remaining for the completion of the current financial year, the Plan Fund spending by the City Corporation is just 23.47 per cent.

During a special session of the corporation council on Thursday to discuss the Plan Fund expenditure, development committee chairman T.J Vinod gave out details of the utilisation.

Opposition members made a scathing attack on the ruling bench for poor utilisation of funds. “As many as 105 works, including drain and road works, are yet to be tendered.

If the current progress is any indication, not even half of the Plan Funds would be utilised before March. If the contractors are instructed to complete works at a fast pace to achieve the target, it would affect the quality of work,” said Adv. M. Anil Kumar, CPM councillor.

The council members also shared their concern over the recent government order to scrap funds allocated for spillover works, that could not be completed last fiscal, if the works are not completed in time.

The government has set the deadline to complete spillover works as December 31. The councillors demanded that the deadline should be extended to March 2015.

Replying to the debate, Mayor Tony Chammany said that the council’s resolution seeking government intervention in this regard would be submitted.

“If the government insists on abandoning the concept of spillover works, it would definitely affect Plan Fund works in the city. The opinion of other civic body chiefs would be sought on the topic,” he said.

Meanwhile, steps have been taken to hasten the Plan Fund works. “Officials have been asked to submit the estimate of all works before December 5 to the Planning Cell.

A meeting of contractors will be convened on December 1 to chalk out an action plan for timely completion of works,” added T.J Vinod.