Oppn alleges WB fund misuse

Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition alleged misappropriation of World Bank loan of Rs 1,750 crores taken for Rebuild Kerala Initiative (RKI) by the state government and staged a walkout from the assembly on Tuesday to protest ‘the government’s failure in initiating rehabilitation and rebuilding measures after the two consecutive monsoon floods’.
Meanwhile, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the projects under RKI will take three years for completion. “The Rebuild Kerala Development Programme (RKDP), was prepared with the assistance of global experts not as a programme which could be implemented in one year but as one to be completed over three years,” the CM said, while responding to an adjournment motion moved by IUML MLA M Basheer raising the allegation.
Though the CM elaborated on the ‘multi-sector activity’ involving various government departments and other agencies, the high-level empowered committee (HLEC) meetings and administrative sanction given to several projects, the opposition held on to its allegation that the government misappropriated the first installment of the WB loan for RKI.
“As per the order of the expenditure wing of the central government, the first installment of the loan needs to be handed over to the respective projects within seven days to evade additional interest. The CM says that the funds will be transferred at the time of implementation of the projects, which is a serious violation. The state will have to pay huge interest for this misappropriation,” said opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, before staging the walkout.
He also criticized the LDF government for ‘not spending a single rupee from Rs 1,000 crore earmarked in the 2019-20 budget for Rebuild Kerala and said there were people affected by the 2018 floods who are yet to receive the due compensation. “This government, with its inefficiency, cannot protect Kerala in case of another natural calamity,” Ramesh added.
The CM, while defending the government’s position, said administrative sanction was given to various projects submitted for sectors including agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, livelihood jobs, transport and water resources.