Mayor alleges plot to derail Plan Campaign

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 27. The Mayor, Prof. J. Chandra, today alleged a conspiracy by a section of the Congress leadership to derail the activities of the People's Plan Campaign in the city Corporation.

Addressing a press conference here, she said the recent transfer of a number of officials in key posts including department heads was aimed at sabotaging the Plan Campaign activities. She added that many of the officials were experienced hands and crucial to the formulation of the next year's Plan Campaign.

She alleged a plot to paralyse the Corporation administration and prevent the local body from submitting the Plan projects before the deadline on August 4. "Under the guidelines issued by the UDF Government, the Corporation has to submit the projects for the fifth Plan Campaign by August 4 failing which the first instalment of Plan funds will be slashed. At a time when the administration is working overtime to finalise the projects, the politically-motivated transfer of key officials threatens to upset the preparations and smacks of a deliberate attempt to derail the campaign," she said.

Prof. Chandra alleged that a section of Congress leaders within and outside the Corporation is behind the conspiracy to torpedo the Plan activities. She revealed that the Corporation Secretary, Ms. Sharmila Mary Joseph, the Revenue Officer, Mr. S. Mohanan who also holds charge of the Thiruvallam zonal office and the sectoral committee on electricity, the Head of the Housing section in the Plan Campaign Cell, Mr. P. Ajaykumar, the Corporation Superintendent, Mr. M.S. Varghese who in also in charge of the sectoral committee on Social Welfare, the Ulloor zonal office superintendent, Ms. Sobhana Devi, and the head office superintendents, Ms. Emily Denora and Ms. P.S. Geethakumary, were abruptly transferred.

The Mayor said there had been no move to fill the posts of Superintending Engineer, PA to the Secretary and Council Secretary which had been lying vacant for months. She urged the Local Administration Minister to intervene in the issue and resolve the shortage of manpower.

Cong. councillor's reaction

In a sharp reaction to the Mayor's charges, the Congress councillor and Finance standing committee member, Mr. Thampanoor Satheesh, has alleged that five years of misrule by the LDF had stunted the development of the city.

In a pressnote here today, he said the Mayor's allegations were politically motivated and a bid to cover up the massive financial irregularities which marked the LDF regime in the Corporation.

Mr. Satheesh alleged that the CPI(M) had diverted development funds to the party coffers. He said crores of rupees worth of equipment were purchased in violation of rules. He said the Mayor had overruled the Finance committee's decision to probe the reported irregularities in the modernisation of the slaughterhouse at Kunnukuzhy.

Mr. Satheesh said the CPI(M) leadership had also indulged in massive corruption in the construction of the garbage processing plant at Vilappilsala and purchase of equipment. He urged the Chief Minister to order an inquiry into the irregularities in the Corporation.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Restoration of rail traffic to be delayed
Next     : Corpn. opposes notification of land for Canal
           Walk project