The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the Kochi Corporation secretary to file an affidavit stating the steps taken by the Corporation to comply with the order of the court to complete the drainage work at Panampilli Nagar before the onset of monsoon.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice K Vinod Chandran issued the order on a contempt petition filed by P A Peter of Ravipuram stating that the Kochi Corporation had not taken any steps to implement the High Court order.
The Court had ordered on March 22 that the work on the drainage connecting Perumanoor, Ravipuram, Panampilli Nagar and LIG Colony, which had been stalled for the past one-and-a-half years should be completed before the monsoon to avoid unnecessary hardships to the residents of the area.
Though the High Court had ordered that pipes should be laid to help the water drain out to Perandoor canal, the Corporation has been delaying the work, the petitioner alleged. Even after more than 2 months had elapsed since the court order, no steps have been taken by the Corporation to commence the construction work. The inaction on the part of the authorities is tantamount to contempt of court, the petitioner submitted.
