No funds, but Kochi corporation wants ISO certification

KOCHI: The city corporation is never known for its efficiency or management skills but is now working towards getting ISO certification for quality management. The old corporation building is being refurbished for this. A meeting chaired by Mayor Soumini Jain on Monday reviewed the process. However, there is stiff opposition from various corners against the civic administration’s decision to spend an enormous amount of money to get the certification.

“While the roads are in bad condition, waste removal is improper, corporation’s other offices are in a poor shape and there is no improvement in the service delivery to the public what is the use of getting an ISO certification? Is the municipal corporation going for any competition? The process is just to give funds for few contractors in the name of refurbishing offices of the civic officials,” alleged a top source on condition of anonymity.

While construction of the new building of the corporation is progressing at Marine Drive, the civic body is finding new ways to waste public money through spending huge amount on renovating the old office, alleged V.P Chandran, CPM parliamentary party leader in the council.  

“The mayor and the ruling bench have decided to go for ISO Certification without consulting the Opposition or even presenting it before the council. Instead of spending a huge amount for making some cosmetic changes, the funds should be used for executing the repair works of zonal offices which are in a very bad shape,” he said. The CPM is planning to launch a protest against wasting public money.