Kerala: Major works left midway in district

KOZHIKODE: With the local body elections  fast approaching, there are complaints galore about major projects,  which were started off with much fanfare in the district, being  left midway without completion. 

The LDF, which has ruled the corporation council,  has accused the state government of  scuttling many of the projects because some were envisaged by the previous LDF government.

The panchayat ministry headed by  Dr M.K. Muneer  representing the  south Assembly constituency of Kozhikode district says that only very few projects were not implemented due to  technical issues.   

One of the major developmental works  envisaged by the district panchayat  was the cultivation of paddy at Avalapandi Chira, which was once the major sources of paddy production in the district.

“But  after spending a few lakhs of rupees,  it was abandoned  and  a fund of Rs 340 lakh sanctioned for the cultivation in 588 hectares with an expected 980 tonnes  lapsed,”  said district panchayat  member Dineeshan.

The district bicentenary court complex,  district panchayat  planning committee building, parking plaza, Aripara hydel project and sports development project  initiated by the district panchayat  have  reached nowhere. 

On the other hand,  the city corporation has taken steps to complete the projects envisaged by the previous administration and has ignored  those  like animal birth control, waste management unit and renovation of buildings, including Town Hall.

The LDF legislators also claim that the present government has not completed  many of the public works,  including the coastal highway project from Ponnani in Malappuram district to Vegalam in Kozhikode district.