The Hindu Business Line : Kerala: Civic chiefs told to ensure quality of Plan projects

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 22 The Kerala Local Administration Minister, Mr Paloli Mohammed Kutty, has called upon the civic chiefs to ensure the quality of the Eleventh Plan projects and also to give priority to the EMS Housing Scheme.

At a meeting of mayors and municipal chairpersons in the State, the Minister said that utmost caution should be exercised while implementing the Centrally-sponsored schemes and no room should be given for criticism that schemes were not being implemented in a time-bound manner.

He pointed out that some municipalities were lagging behind in implementing the schemes and reminded the civic chiefs that timely completion of the schemes would help them get the sanctioned funds.

Targets for housing

Besides, the farmingsector should be given due importance in the scheme of things and those local bodies, which could not take up paddy farming, should turn to vegetable cultivation.

This would help the State bring down the dependence on neighbouring states for its requirement of vegetables in due course. The Minister said that instead of wasting the funds allocated for the welfare schemes of the Scheduled Tribes, it should be used for building houses for the homeless poor.

He also cautioned the civic chiefs against diversion of funds allocated for other sectors and wanted them to fix a target for the housing scheme and work in a systematic manner.

Funds utilisation

He noted that while the Plan fund utilisation had been impressive, there was scope for further improving the quality of the projects. The thrust should not be on fund utilisation, he added.

One of the prime responsibilities of the local bodies was refuse management and processing plants should be set up to avert a crisis.

Also, there should be concerted efforts to check unauthorised construction, even while ensuring issuing of building licences to the public in a hassle-free manner.

The Minister said that tax collection should be stepped up to increase the own fund of the civic bodies.

And, loss due to under-assessment, should be plugged.

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