Kerala - Kochi   

Corporation reiterates plea for removal of consultant

KOCHI: The standoff between the Kochi Corporation and a consultant for some of its projects has taken a new turn with the corporation deciding once again to approach the State government for removing the consultant.

The corporation had earlier approached the government with the request to remove the consultancy firm DSC2 which is a consortium of WAPCOS and ISA. The decision was following the reported delay on the part of the consultant to prepare detailed project reports for obtaining assistance from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). The DSC2 had entered into an agreement with the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project, the nodal agency for the implementation of mission projects for Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, for preparing project reports for the mission projects and the ones supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The reported delay on the part of the consultant to prepare a few detailed project reports as demanded by the corporation and also the city mobility plan before December 31 provoked the civic authorities. It was decided at the meeting convened by Local Administration Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty last week that detailed project reports and mobility plan would be completed by this year end. However, the firm had conveyed its inability to compete the works before the deadline, said a civic administrator.

The delay in preparing the project reports will lead to the civic body losing the funds. The delay in completing the reports for the Asian Development Bank-funded projects would lead to huge financial loss to the corporation as it would have to pay commitment charges, pointed out a civic administrator.

As the delay in completing the reports for both projects would cause huge financial burden, the corporation would write to the State government for making alternative arrangements for getting the reports prepared without delay, the official said.

When contacted, T.V. Jacob, deputy team leader of the DSC2, said the firm was trying to cooperate with the corporation to the maximum possible extent in preparing the reports. The City Mobility Plan will be presented on January 2 and the survey for the project for improving the infrastructure facilities of three slums in the city was progressing. The survey for preparing the drainage plan was also progressing and it would be completed by the second week of January, he said.

While refusing to comment on the steps taken by the corporation to get the consultancy scrapped, Mr. Jacob said that the agency was in fact moving ahead of schedule. The agency entered the scene just six months ago and was completing the works ahead of the schedule. The corporation was attempting to make up for the time it lost in preparing the reports and agency was cooperating with the civic body to the possible extent, he said.

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