Kochi Corporation mulls Rs 148 crore worth plans

Kochi: The City Corporation on Wednesday presented for discussions a rough draft of development projects worth Rs 148 crore to be carried out during the 2018–2019 fiscal.

During the annual development seminar organised by the civic body on Wednesday, the civic administration put up for discussion how to utilise the Plan Fund allocation of Rs 148 crore for the next fiscal.

The other funding sources include Central and State agencies, own fund, beneficiary allocation and bank loans.  

Various projects compiled by the 19 working groups based on the discussions in ward sabhas were presented during the development seminar.

Inaugurating the seminar, Mayor Soumini Jain said that learning lessons from past experiences, priority would be given to farsighted projects which aimed at comprehensive development and social justice.

“As part of the Vision – 2030 programme, focus will be given to farsighted projects,” said Ms. Jain.

Standing committee chairpersons A.B. Sabu, V.K. Minimol, P.M. Haris, K.V.P. Krishna Kumar, Shainy Mathew, Poornima Narayan, councillors K.J. Antony, Sudha Dilip kumar and Corporation secretary A.S. Anuja were also present.
Meanwhile, the Opposition in the council alleged that development works in the next fiscal would also be derailed as the Corporation had failed to comply with the time schedule specified by the State government for Plan projects’ implementation.

While other civic bodies had got the District Planning Cell’s nod for their Plan projects, the Kochi Corporation has just concluded the development seminar after which the proposals had to be finalised and approved by the council, said V.P. Chandran, CPM councillor.