The Hindu 09.04.2013
Kottayam municipality comes under fire for poor utilisation of plan funds
According to official records, as per data provided on April 1, Kottayam Municipality has spent only 43 per cent of the plan funds for the last financial year.
Pala utilised 100 per cent funds, while Vaikom and Changanassery utilised 65.63 per cent and 84 per cent respectively.
The dismal performance will have its effect this year and the local body will lose nearly 17 per cent of its plan fund allocation. As per government decision, those local bodies which achieve 60 per cent of the target will be allowed to carry over the remaining funds over to the next year.
Worst-hit
The Scheduled communities will be the worst-hit. The achievement under this category is only 14 per cent. This means, funds for Scheduled communities will witness a massive cut, if present norms are followed.
Municipal chairman M.P. Santhosh Kumar said there had been no delay in moving ahead with the plans after he assumed power on December 5, 2012. “We got the nod from the District Planning Committee on January 21. But there was a delay during tendering as single tendering was not allowed. Many of the works had to be retendered. When the procedural formalities were completed, it was late February,” he said.
He also said out of 463 projects, many were in the infrastructure development sector, which involved cumbersome procedural formalities.
M.K. Prabhakaran, who leads the opposition LDF in the council, said the unprecedented situation was created on account of the tussle in the ruling Front. “The period from September to November was lost on account of the change in leadership of the Council, following the tussle within the party. Even after the new chairman took office, work on the plan was held up due to the delay in the selection of standing committee chairpersons,” he said.
Mr. Santhosh Kumar was, however, optimistic. “This year we were in a difficult situation, But we will overcome it soon,” he said.
“We will be able to submit the projects for next year’s plan by April and complete the formalities by June. This means we will get at least six months’ time for implementation,” he said.
