THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is something dubious about Thiruvananthapuram Corporation awarding the kitchen bin project to Integrated Rural Technology Centre (IRTC), Palakkad, according to BJP councillors. Even though there were three agencies accredited by the government, the Corporation received the invoice only from IRTC, said Thrikkannapuram councillor Anil Kumar K. “Moreover Suchitwa Mission sets Rs 1,800 as the maximum rate per kitchen bin. The Corporation has bought the bins at the same rate, indicating that there has been no negotiation,” he said. He added that since the Corporation had 1.25 lakh households where kitchen bins would be established, this should be treated with the gravity of a Rs 50 crore project.
The two other government accredited agencies for solid waste management are Socio-Economic Unit Foundation (SEUF) and Centre for Environment and Development (CED). Health Standing Committee Chairperson K Sreekumar, in response, said that CED did not offer kitchen bins, so the letter inviting kitchen bin proposals was sent to SEUF and IRTC. “SEUF did not respond. Since IRTC was the only agency which responded, the project was awarded to them,” he said. He added that Rs 1800 was the rate approved by Suchitwa Mission.
Mayor V K Prasanth had given prior sanction to issue a supply order for 15,833 bins on March 25, and give IRTC an advance payment of Rs 56,99,880 (20 per cent of the total) on March 28. However this was tabled in the council only on Tuesday. BJP councillor V.G. Girikumar said that Thiruvananthapuram Corporation has been giving prior sanctions in cases where the amount involved ran into lakhs.
