Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Latin Catholic forum alleges diversion of tsunami funds

Thiruvananthapuram: The Latheen Katholikka Aikya Vedi has urged the government to take urgent steps to check the corruption and diversion of funds earmarked for the tsunami rehabilitation project.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, vedi president A. James Fernandez and other office-bearers said a section of officials was misusing the tsunami funds. “The assistance from the Central government is being spent on activities that have no relevance to tsunami rehabilitation. The funds are being distributed to residents’ associations in the Fort, Sreekanteswaram, Thampanoor, Vanchiyoor, Secretariat, Kannamoola, Palkulangara and Palayam wards that were not affected by the tsunami. The coastal areas that bore the brunt of the tragedy have been bypassed. The government has failed to check corruption by officials of the Revenue, Agriculture and Tourism Departments. The diversion of tsunami funds has the tacit approval of both the ruling and opposition parties,” he said.

Mr. Fernandez wondered why the Agriculture Department had failed to compensate the families that lost their coconut trees in the tsunami.

“A project announced by the government to repair the beach road at Shanghumughom and beautify the place has been dragging on for years. Many of the roads in the coastal belt are waterlogged and in need of urgent repair. In the absence of streetlights, the area is plunged into darkness. Fishermen families have been excluded from the government scheme to provide land and housing.”

Mr. Fernandez alleged political discrimination in allotting houses constructed under the tsunami rehabilitation project.

“Below poverty line families have been excluded from the beneficiaries selected for the 31 houses constructed at Beemapally.”

He said the failure to take action on the recommendations of the Dr. Vijayanunni Commission gave room for suspicion.

“The commission had unearthed irregularities to the tune of crores of rupees in utilising tsunami funds. But two years after the commission submitted its report, the government is yet to order a Vigilance inquiry against the Revenue officials who were found guilty.”

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