Kannur Corpn. Mayor slams Minister

Kannur Corporation Mayor P. Indira on Monday (March 9) accused MLA Ramachandran Kadannappally of attempting to conceal his inefficiency by blaming the Corporation.

Addressing a press conference at the Corporation hall, Ms. Indira said the agitation announced by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Kannur Assembly Committee on Tuesday (March 10) was politically motivated. The LDF had called for a protest alleging that the Corporation was blocking development activities by denying permission for works funded through the MLA’s local area development fund.

The Mayor alleged that development in the constituency had stagnated over the past ten years and that, with the end of the tenure approaching, the Minister had begun organising a series of project inaugurations. She said foundation stones were being laid and works initiated at several locations without informing or obtaining permission from the Corporation.

Citing an example, Ms. Indira said construction work had reportedly begun at the Town Square area without municipal approval. When the parking area was dug up and construction continued, the Corporation issued a stop memo as civic body permission was mandatory for such works.

She also alleged that the State government was showing political discrimination towards the Corporation and trying to shift responsibility for administrative failures onto the civic body. She said the first four years after the Corporation’s formation were under LDF administration and lacked a clear development vision, which delayed major projects. “Subsequent administrations led by the United Democratic Front (UDF) had pushed forward development initiatives now visible in the city,” she added.

Ms. Indira further alleged that a shortage of engineers in the Corporation’s engineering wing had affected project implementation and delayed works and bill processing.