Probe into UDF nod on 10 infra projects

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: PWD Minister G. Sudhakaran has ordered a probe into the previous UDF government’s decision to grant administrative sanction to 10 projects under the District Flagship Infrastructure Project without earmarking sufficient funds for them.  The funds required for the  21 projects was supposed to be met from Kerala Road Fund Board through the 50 percent share of additional sales tax collected at the rate of Rs 1 per litre of petrol/diesel in the state.

Mr Sudhakaran said that the UDF government had earmarked only Rs 197 crore when the total expenditure for the 21 projects was Rs 1,620.30 crore. The cabinet sub-committee appointed by the LDF government is yet to come out with its report on the findings. “We do not have any plans to stall the DFIP announced by the UDF government. It has been temporarily put on hold. Two flyovers in Kozhikode (Thondayad and Ramanattukara) that come under DFIP should have been undertaken by the National Highway Authority of India. When the state government’s finances looked bleak, they took up 21 projects,” said Mr Sudhakaran.

The flagship project of the PWD was prepared as per the directives of the then chief minister Oommen Chandy when it had planned  a slew of proposals before the 2015-16 budget. But when former finance minister K. M. Mani presented his budget, he did not reveal  how the funding for them would be sourced.   Former PWD secretary A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish in the GO dated  June 10, 2015  said that in principle, sanction for the implementation of 21 projects at an estimated cost of '3,771.47 crore had been granted through KRFB.

The 50 percent share was expected to be Rs 200 crore per annum.  Mr Sudhakaran  said this had  gone to the account of KRFB. Even though KRFB had then prepared the Detailed Project Report on various infrastructure projects, it was in limbo due to the bleak financial status of the state. Mr Sudhakaran also said that the hill highway and coastal highway would be completed within the LDF ministry’s tenure. He  rued that only Rs 137 crore had been earmarked for road maintenance though Rs 5,000 crore was required.