Graft charges mar corporation council meet

KOZHIKODE: The city corporation council meeting, on Wednesday, witnessed a walkout by the opposition councillors.
They protested against awarding of works to Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd (ULCCS) without following the tendering proceedings.
Opposition deputy leader Muhammed Ali raised objection when the first agenda pertaining to the construction of building roof over corporation’s main office came up for discussion.
He said that though the ULCCS is one of the best in the field in carrying out the construction work, it is not fair to entrust the society to carry out the work without floating tenders. The opposition councillors protested citing there involving corruption in the awarding of Rs 25 lakh worth work to CPM-controlled ULCCS.
Councillor P Kishan Chand of socialist janata (democratic) said that the ULCCS is not included in the 15-member panel of consultant list prepared by the corporation on July 10, hence its not proper to award work order to ULCCS without floating tenders.
The remark made by Muhammed Ali during the deliberations on the alleged involvement of the Abdul Latheef in many corruption charges resulted in heated exchange of words between the ruling and the opposition councillors. Latheef said that he is ready to face any corruption charges and opposition need not make any personal attacks frequently resulting in spat between the councillors. M Mohanan, public works standing committee chairman said that work was awarded to ULCCS as it is one of the government recognized agency. “There is no corruption involved in the proceedings,’’ he said.
The opposition also registered protests for entrusting engineer E Shaju to carry out the supervision works of the construction works of new building at a cost of Rs 60 lakh at the old corporation premises, construction of flat at Vallyakkad colony with an estimated amount of Rs 1 crore, which were listed as second and third agendas in the meet.