The Hindu 26.07.2012
Call for Vigilance inquiry in Municipal Council meet
Quality of items procured through municipality questioned
The meeting of Kottayam Municipal council on Wednesday
was marked by a fervent call for initiating vigilance enquiry into
various developmental activities that have been undertaken.
The
contentious issues mainly included the recent installation of
streetlights in various parts of the Municipality. Incidentally, it was
Nattakom Suresh, member of the ruling UDF in the 52-member council, who
had raised the allegation regarding corruption during purchase of
streetlights. He stuck to the stance that had been adopted in a previous
meeting and claimed that various instances of financial irregularities
had taken place during the purchase of various items including tubes for
the streetlights. At the same time, there were also accusations that
questioned the quality of several related items that were procured
through the electrical wing of the Municipality.
As
the ruling front remained unable to counter the charges, the opposition
sought to make the most out of the unexpected development by urging
Municipal chairman Sunny Kalloor to approach the issue with due
seriousness.
M.K. Prabhakaran, the leader of
opposition in the council, also called for initiating a vigilance
enquiry to probe the veracity of the allegations that were raised.
The
opposition also sought to draw attention to the allegation of attempts
to sell off paddy fields in the name of promoting tourism. Opposition
member Jayasree Prassannakumar alleged that there were attempts being
made to sell plots of the paddy fields at Cherupaingalam in
Kumaranalloor sector. It was also alleged that the actual owners of the
land were not among the signatories in the agreement for the sale that
was conducted for tourism development.
Assurance
Responding
to a demand, chairman Sunny Kalloor provided assurances to facilitate
the functioning of the anganvadi at Kumaranallooor from the nearby
government school. This was in response to a demand by councillor P.R.
Sreekala who had pointed out that the pathetic condition of the
anganvadi’s existing facility.
During the meeting,
councillor B. Gopakumar protested against the alleged move of the
Municipality to sanction a plot of land adjacent to the Municipal
Stadium at Nagampadom for the construction of a building of the Khadi
Board.
He pointed out that the land must be used for
enhancing the facilities of the stadium and that the land could not be
handed over without the approval of the Sports Council.
