KOCHI: The implementation of the annual Plan projects of the Kochi Corporation for the 2017-18 fiscal may go awry as the local body has already missed the deadlines fixed by the Local Self Government Department.
The corporation is facing criticism for the tardy spending of Plan funds during the current fiscal, which ends on March 31. The delay in completing the groundwork resulted in poor spending by the local body.
The State government had directed all local bodies to initiate the Plan process in January as most of them could not prepare Plan documents even after six months into the fiscal. It was also suggested that local bodies start implementing their projects in April after obtaining statutory approvals by March 31.
T.K. Jose, Principal Secretary, Local Self Government Department, had written to all civic bodies, fixing fresh deadlines for the planing process and implementation of projects.
Going by the government’s directive, local bodies were to form planning committees and working groups before January 16, and the draft documents on development had to be readied by January 31.
A planning expert was to be appointed vice chairman of the planning committee in each local body. The expert was expected to support the local body in planning, coordinating, and implementing the annual Plan process. The Mayor was to be the chairman of the committee.
Meanwhile, the Kochi Corporation is understood to have zeroed in on a former councillor, who was also the chairman of the education standing committee, to head the planning committee.
Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod admitted that the corporation had not made any significant progress in the implementation of the government directive.
Downplaying the delay in forming the committees, Mr. Vinod said the local body was currently busy with the implementation of Plan projects.
