The indecision over the trenching and restoration of city roads for the Indian Oil-Adani Gas Private Limited continued in the civic administration as the Kochi Corporation council failed to take a decision on Tuesday.
The council meeting directed the Works Standing Committee to revisit the restoration rates and come up with its suggestions at the next meeting.
Though the Kochi Corporation had demanded a rate higher than the one prescribed by the Public Works Department for the restoration work, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had insisted that the works should be done at the rate prescribed by the department.
The difference of opinion in both the UDF and the LDF, and among political parties came to the fore as the debate on the contentious issue dominated the day’s proceedings.
While the CPI(M), which had earlier supported the civic administration’s demand for a higher rate, watered down its position following the tough stand taken by the Chief Minister, the CPI, an LDF partner, opposed the government’s decision. The CPI(M) members had a tough time defending their change of stand in the council.
Jimini, the CPI representative, demanded that the local body should approach the government for revising the rates and reversing the government decision, much to the embarrassment of the LDF benches.
The CPI is of the view that the project should be implemented but the government decision of lowering the restoration charges should be revised, said Ms. Jimini as the Congress councillors welcomed the position of the LDF partner.
Mayor’s stand
Though Deputy Mayor and Congress councillor T. J. Vinod and Works Committee Chairman and Indian Union Muslim League leader P. M. Harris vehemently opposed the government decision of lowering the restoration fee and warned that the city roads would become non-motorable if the restoration works were not carried out properly, Mayor Soumini Jain took a different position. Ms. Jain said she was in possession of a report from the superintending engineer of the Kochi Corporation which stated that the restoration works could be effectively carried out at the rate suggested by the PWD. The corporation should closely watch the first phase of the trenching and restoration of the roads. Later, a decision could be taken on the basis of the outcome of the restoration work, she suggested.
Mr. Vinod contended that the quality of restoration work would have to be compromised if it were to be carried out at the rate prescribed by the PWD.
A.B. Sabu, the Chairman of the Welfare Standing Committee and Congress councillor, firmly opposed the government’s stand, which, according to him, undermined the position of the civic body on the issue. However, the local body cannot go against the decision of the government. Yet, one should also keep in mind that local bodies were also agencies empowered by the Constitution of India, he said.
