Kerala: Vigilance probe into waste scam

KOCHI: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) is probing the corruption in the transportation of waste from Aluva Municipality to Brahmapuram solid waste treatment plant of Kochi Corporation after registering an FIR in this regard at the Muvattupuzha Vigilance Court. A team led by DySP Ashok Kumar is undertaking the investigation into the case which became notorious for “using even bikes and cars” for transporting waste from 2011-12 and 2014-15.

After activist Khalid Mundappalli filed a petition in the Muvattupuzha court, the VACB Ernakulam unit conducted a quick verification (QV) and questioned the officials concerned in the Aluva Municipality and also the three contractors involved. Following the developments, FIR was registered in the court against three contractors and three officials. Further inquiry is being now undertaken by the team led by DySP Ashok Kumar and it is learnt that they have detected misappropriation to the tune of Rs 3 lakh now while Khalid alleges misappropriation to the tune of Rs 50 lakh.

The three contractors M. P. Shaji, Naushad and Babu Joseph are in the dock for allegedly creating fake trip sheets to claim amounts which they did not spend for transporting waste. The State Audit Department officials unearthed the details after checking the registration number of the vehicles which were submitted by the contractors as being used for transporting waste, on the website of the State Motor Vehicles Department. They had submitted that these were lorries used for the purpose and on checking it was revealed that these were actually bikes and cars.

The Audit Department which rejected the bills submitted by a contractor claiming Rs 1,46,797 after transporting waste in an Innova, another vehicle not registered in Kerala, a Yamaha motor bike,  two Hero Honda motor bikes and an Indica car, ordered to reclaim the amount either from the contractor or the health inspector.