‘Inauguration wave’ keeps city corp staff on their toes

Thiruvananthapuram: The unprecedented spate of inaugurations and launch of programmes of city corporation over the past one month is keeping the staff and organizers on their toes.
Going by record, around 25 different functions were organized by city corporation since the last week of January and there was rarely a day in February which went without a programme, mostly launch of schemes and inauguration of completed works.

It is learnt that at least 10 more projects are lined up for inauguration in the coming days and the ruling council is trying hard to launch of all those projects before election commission plays spoilsport by announcing poll dates.

The functions have been as varied as it can be. During the past few weeks, mayor V K Prasanth laid foundation for four projects, attended one foundation laying ceremony in which chief guest was CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, inaugurated four schemes involving revamp of buildings and cleaning of ponds, distributed study tables, chairs and launched aerobic bins.

Corporation staff have been kept busy preparing notes about each project, key elements and allocation for the schemes, which are to be included in the inaugural speech for each function. The schedule also needs to be spot on as projects under centrally sponsored schemes might be in various stages with regard to technical sanction and tendering and inauguration had to be planned accordingly.

B Thilakan, who has been entrusted with the contract of setting up stages and arranging other necessary items for all functions, has had one of the busiest months so far. The demand has been such that Thilakan has constituted a 20-member-team, all from other states, for skill-based works. “As the demand to organize functions is on the rise, it became necessary to have a special team which would take care of works requiring some expertise in organizing such programmes,” said Thilakan.

The opposition has already been muttering dissent over the pace at which inaugurations and functions are being organized by the ruling council. The launch of food distribution scheme at Thycaud woman and child hospital for the patients just before the day of presentation of budget had led to criticism.

The ruling council, however, says that with elections round the corner, projects have to be launched on a quick note. There is more to come this month as well, the officials add.