Kochi
With the CPI, a ruling coalition ally, and opposition UDF councilors challenging the eligibility of the company to pull out of the Kochi municipal council meeting, which won the bid to set up the new wastewater treatment plant on Monday, the project has plunged into uncertainty. . This development has come as a major setback for the ruling government.
As the agenda came up for discussion in the council, the CPI councillors, who had earlier raised doubts on the technical merit of the firm, reiterated their position that the firm lacked the required qualifications. A standoff broke out between the CPI(M) councilors and the joint opposition as the latter insisted on deciding on the agenda. The CPI(M)’s stand was that the agenda should be put on hold and considered later. However, the opposition opposed the move and wanted a decision on the agenda, which according to them was postponed several times.
CPI also wanted technical bids submitted by other firms.
CPI councilors, including deputy mayor KA Ansia, walked out of the meeting as the council created a ruckus.
The UDF councilors intensified their attack alleging that the ruling government could not even explain the agenda laid before the council meeting to the front participants. They also wanted the civil administration not to extend the existing contract given for waste processing. Later he too joined the CPI and went out.
In his address, Mayor M. Anilkumar said that the local body will not allow the existing contractor to manage the waste in the Brahmapuram campus. Till the signing of the new agreement, the local body will do the work of waste management on its own. He said that there were allegations that no waste processing was taking place in the premises and the waste was dumped at the cleared places.
According to the mayor, the agenda will be deemed to have been passed if he does not register his protest through a dissent note opposing the agenda. Though some councilors had opposed the agenda, none had filed a dissent note till Monday evening. After the meeting, he said that the civic body is of the view that the council should take a unanimous decision on the issue.