CAG report criticises functioning of Kerala urban local bodies

The report noticed major lapses in maintenance of basic records relating to building permits by Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram Corporations.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has flayed the functioning of Urban Local bodies (ULB) in Kerala over its poor maintenance of environmental hygiene.

In its report on Local Self-Government Institutions for the year ended March 2015, tabled in the state Assembly today, the CAG noted that the programmes and activities of the ULBs, with regard to maintenance of environment, were "inadequate".

The functioning of Health Standing Committees and Ward Health Sanitation Committees were deficient in several aspects. Local Self-Governments have failed to keep the public toilets clean and hygienic, the report said.

Most of the public toilets at bus stands and markets were not functioning and in want of repair. There was non-availability of water and malfunctioning of septic tanks, it said.
About the slaughter houses and markets, the report said those in the test-checked ULBs were not functioning with requisite facilities.

Six water bodies were highly polluted due to discharge from industries, hospitals and other commercial establishments, it said, adding, "There was no control over the disposal of sewage in open places near human settlements."

The report also noticed major lapses in maintenance of basic records relating to building permits by Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram Corporations.

It pointed out instances of issuing permits for buildings violating provisions including those relating to Coastal Zone Regulations and Floor Area Restrictions.
Civic bodies were also not taking strict action to regularise, demolish unauthorized constructions, including those brought to notice by the vigilance department, the report said.

It pointed out that at Vizhinjam coastal area in Thiruvananthapuram, a few resorts have carried out constructions violating the regulations.

On the unauthorized constructions near the city airport, the CAG report said though the Airports Authority of India had brought to the notice of the Corporation and government the height violations of buildings in the area, no steps were taken.

The annexe building of the state secretariat here also came under scanner of the CAG, which said the building was constructed flouting Kerala Municipality Building Rules (KMBR).