As part of the decision to expose the alleged anomalies that helped Chottanikkara bag the best panchayat recognition, the Opposition members have decided to conduct campaigns from next week. According to them, they have filed a Right to Information (RTI) application to obtain the records to show that tax collection was incomplete last year. “To get the best panchayat award, the tax collection must be completed. We are sure that the authorities have failed in completing the tax collection procedures. We have also filed an RTI in this regard and all the evidence regarding the misappropriation will be obtained soon,” they said.
They also said that the panchayat has failed to implement the welfare projects. For instance, though the area is facing a severe water scarcity, the panchayat has failed in ensuring proper potable water supply. “The panchayat was directed by district administration to supply water in tanker lorries. Also, to ensure adequate water supply, the administration had allotted four tanker lorries - two mini tankers and two heavy tankers.
However, the panchayat has been using only the mini tankers. As a result, many parts of the panchayat is facing acute water crunch,” they said. Moreover, the authorities are yet to fulfil the promise of installing more street lights. “Since the last two years no street lights have been installed in the panchayat,” they said.
They said that panchayat is yet to open the stadium constructed at Chottanikkara Government High School to the public. “The construction of the stadium was completed a couple of years ago. People should be given access to the stadium. Now, we have decided to organise a series of protests to make it useful to the public,” they said.
The members said that they would bring the inefficiency of the administration of the UDF government to light by conducting various campaigns.
Meanwhile, Chottanikkara Panchayat president M A John refuted the allegation levelled by the opposition members.
“The panchayat received the award after the proper auditing was conducted by the state and Central governments. We had submitted all the documents. The Opposition is trying to tarnish the image of the panchayat by raising baseless allegations,” he said. John also added that they were supplying water to all parts of the panchayat and they the tax collection was completed last year.