Pinarayi Vijayan promises action on flyover graft

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday assured Assembly that those who indulged in corruption in the construction of Palarivattom flyover and other works in Public Works Department will not be spared.

While making significant intervention during Question Hour, the Chief Minister said the grave corruption and irregularities like the one witnessed in Palarivattom bridge construction were the result of the previous UDF government’s failure to take action on the recommendations given by vigilance for curbing corruption in public works.

The Chief Minister’s intervention came after PWD minister replied to the main question pertaining to Palarivattom flyover.

Pinarayi was in no mood to spare the UDF though the minister had adopted a soft approach towards the previous government.

The Palarivattom flyover was commissioned towards the end of UDF government’s tenure in 2016. However, extensive damage was detected in less than a month of its commissioning.

Subsequently a probe revealed that the damage to the pier cps and girders were caused because of poor quality construction material including cement and insufficient quantity of steel.

The chief minister reminded that when allegations of corruption related to PWD came up earlier, the Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau conducted a detailed study.  The report was submitted to the then government on Febuary 28, 2015 vide a letter.

The VACB pointed out the prevalence of various types of corrupt practices in the department.