Media distorting facts onsewerage network: LDF

Tenders were approved by State Empowered Committee

The Left Democratic Front has accused a section of the media of trying to unleash an orchestrated campaign against the Kozhikode Corporation regarding the implementation of sewerage network scheme under the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) in the city.

A meeting of the LDF councillors held in Kozhikode on Thursday said that the media had distorted facts on the subject of laying of pipes for the sewerage project. This had been done without checking basic facts. As per the agreement reached between the KSUDP and the contractors it was the KWA which is the implementing authority.

The meeting pointed out that it was the KSUDP director based in Thiruvananthapuram who had appointed the consultant and had invited global tenders for the project implemented with the financial aid of the Asian Development Bank.

The tenders were approved by the State Empowered Committee chaired by the Minister for Local Administration, said M. Mohanan, member of the CPI(M) and floor leader in the Corporation Council.

He said that the KSUDP director and KWA had inked an agreement for ensuring the quality of the materials and the construction. So the sole responsibility rested with the KWA. Besides, the KWA Superintending Engineer was also the Additional Project Manager. Only this official had been authorised to intervene in any phase of construction activity, he added.

He said that as per the agreement the civic body had to be informed that the project was implemented in the city limits.

Further, the State government had taken the loan and it was also up to it to repay it. However, the media twisted facts to create an impression in the minds of the public that the Corporation had committed irregularities in implementing the project. These allegations had been unleashed against the Corporation with political motives, Mr. Mohanan said.

Anita Rajan of the Nationalist Congress Party presided over the meeting. Deputy Mayor P.T. Abdul Latheef and M. Radhakrishnan, Janamma Kunjunni, T. Hasan, O. Sadasivasan, Musafir Ahamed, V.K. Mohandas and T. Moideen Koya, all CPI (M) councillors, spoke.