Kerala audit report raps Cusat, medical centre

KOCHI: The audit report for the year 2016-17 by the State Audit Department has found that Kalamassery municipality has failed to take action against 69 unauthorised constructions with its limits. The Ernakulam Government Medical College (EMC) and Cusat buildings too are included in this and the municipality has failed to provide details of any tax imposed on them also. The audit department has instructed the municipality to undertake inspection in these buildings.  It says that the big buildings including that of Chakkolas Spinning and Weaving Mills Limited come under the unauthorized list.

The municipality has failed to keep a common file for the unauthorized constructions. Because of this the proceedings for giving UA numbers for them could not be inspected. UA number is given for unauthorized constructions. According to the register, initially UA number was given to 95 buildings of which 26 buildings were regularized later. However, the files related to Cusat, EMC and Chakolas, though demanded for inspection, were not submitted by the municipal authorities for inspection. 

The audit report hence notes that the process of the municipality to give authorized numbers to 26 buildings cannot be construed as given after proper inspection. An inspection could not be conducted in this direction because of lack of records. The audit department has also sought a detailed report in this regard including on tax collection. It strongly suspects a case of tax loss here.

As per the data base prepared by the Uralungal Labour Contract Society after conducting a road mapping in the municipality, 14 double-storey villas were also found to be unauthorized construction by private individuals.  However, the audit enquiry regarding building permit and property tax of them met with mute response. The audit department has hence sought a detailed report from the municipality on the total unauthorized constructions after conducting a detailed enquiry.