Kochi Corporation lets Rs 18 crore funds to lapse

KOCHI: The Kochi Corporation which lags behind other civic bodies in the state in utilisation of annual Plan funds, has failed to effectively utilise the additional Plan assistance of Rs 18 crore from the state government. The civic body could not prepare feasible project proposals  on time and decided to transfer the funds for implementation of Central government funded projects like RAY and PMAY and Smart City Mission which already have enough funds.  

“The cash strapped corporation has received enough funds this year. But it miserably failed in planning and implementing development works. The additional Plan funds could have been used for road, drain and public buildings’ works proposed by the ward committees. But the delay in estimate preparation, submission of proposals to district Planning Committee and tendering process has hit implementation,” said V.P Chandran, CPM councillor in the Corporation council. Though the Corporation had earlier announced that the additional funds would be used for constructing the long drawn modern slaughterhouse project at Mattancherry, the proposal has not been taken up.

“The abattoir project has to be planned in detail and it would require more time for execution. Hence, the project has been postponed to the next fiscal,” said V.K Minimol, health committee chairperson. The Corporation will also lapse the amount, collected from tender savings of the Plan projects and the maintenance grant as the proposals have not been submitted to the DPC for approval. Every year, the Corporation uses the Plan fund savings for various projects inclu-ding road and drain works. Though the local body will be able to attain a desirable percentage of Plan fund utilisation by transferring the unused funds for mega projects funded by Centre, the basic infrastructure development will be affected.