Kochi Corporation council meet ends in discord over loan row, LDF registers dissent

The council meeting of Kochi Corporation held on Tuesday to approve the annual plan projects for submission before the District Planning Committee (DPC), which began on a conciliatory note, ended with the opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) registering a dissent note after a ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) councillor raised allegations against the previous LDF council over a loan proposal.

The LDF accused the UDF-led council of violating norms in short-listing projects for DPC approval and announced that it would petition the DPC as well. Development projects worth about ₹207.48 crore, including ₹133 crore under the plan fund, were placed before the council. Later in the day, an all-party subcommittee constituted by Mayor V.K. Minimol, at the instance of LDF parliamentary party leader V.A. Sreejith, discussed and approved the projects.

The meeting opened on a cordial note, with Mr. Sreejith expressing the opposition’s intent to participate constructively in the city’s development. He sought clarity on whether all standing committees had met to discuss and approve the projects, and demanded list on sector-wise allocations.

Loan proposal

As Ms. Minimol was preparing to conclude the session, ruling councillor M.G. Aristotle objected to a loan proposal of ₹10.78 crore, approved during the previous LDF council, without securing the current council’s approval. “Who gave the approval for such a loan? Let the opposition leader clarify,” he said.

Mr. Sreejith countered that the loan had indeed been approved by the previous council, a point the Mayor also endorsed. “We are willing if this council decides never to take loans. We had agreed to co-operate in getting projects cleared, but if the ruling side wants to politicise matters, so be it. Let us move forward only after ensuring strict compliance with norms. Proposals that never came before standing committees have crept into the list for DPC submission. Let the committees reconvene and clear them as well,” he said, striking a combative note.

Ms. Minimol attempted to placate him, but with little effect. She said that the proposal to take loan from Hudco was not acted up on because of which Corporation is finding it hard to foot bills, and hence the loan will have to be taken.

Later, Mr. Sreejith alleged that proposals approved at ward sabhas, development seminars, working groups, and standing committees were struck down and replaced with others outside the institutional process. He pointed out that several park proposals were rejected on the grounds that they could be funded through CSR initiatives, while ₹1 crore was allocated for a park in memory of late Congress leader P.T. Thomas.

Defending the move, Ms. Minimol said funding for the renovation of existing parks had proved ineffective. She justified the memorial park proposal as part of the UDF’s policy of protecting public spaces. “The park is proposed in front of the Ravipuram cemetery to reclaim an area currently reduced to a dumping ground. Let us not go by the name alone,” she said.