Lapses cost Kochi Corporation Rs 7 crore

KOCHI: The fund starved City Corporation has failed to use the nearly Rs 7 crore from the state government’s annual Plan funds and maintenance grant. The amount, collected from tender savings of the Plan projects and the maintenance grant, has lapsed as the civic body has failed to use it before the announcement of the Assembly polls. Every year, the Corporation uses the Plan fund savings for various projects including road and drain works.

“Though the civic authorities have conceived projects and even prepared a detailed estimate, the proposals have not been sent to the district planning cell for approval. The civic body has been sitting on the projects, including development of selected roads in many divisions using bitumen macadam and bitumen concrete, and was not keen on getting the DPC nod before the announcement of polls,” alleged sources at the Corporation on condition of anonymity.

However, refuting the allegations Mayor Soumini Jain told DC that the Plan savings amount had been allocated as a deposit for a few projects including the construction of RO-RO terminals at Vypeen and Fort Kochi. “No funds have lapsed and the allegations are politically motivated. The maintenance grant will also not lapse as the state government will allow it as spillover in the next fiscal,” she said.

But, the civic officials question the credibility of the statement. “The civic body will get spillover funds only if the works have been tendered after getting the DPC approval. Since no projects have been approved or tendered, there is no possibility for getting spillover funds,” sources added.