Aluva corporation refuses to give government aid

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While the state government has finally sanctioned Rs 40 lakh for the temporary bridge at Aluva Manalpuram , the Aluva Municipality is now refusing to hand over the amount to the temple advisory committee of the Sree Krishna Temple which built it.

Although municipality secretary, P. Vijayan, acknowledges the state government has sanctioned the Rs 40 lakh and claims the civic body “is in the process of collecting it,” Aluva municipality chairman, M.C. Jacob, categorically says it will not release any of the money received to the temple committee, and refuses to explain why.

Strangely, the municipality, which had given an advance of Rs 7.5 lakh for the construction of the bridge, is now demanding this money back as well.

The municipality’s stand has come in for criticism with some alleging that it is trying to pocket the `40 lakh sanctioned by the state government in the guise of using it for organising the Sivarathri festival celebrations.

The move smacks of corruption, they claim. The temple committee hopes to draw the attention of the state government and the Kerala High Court to the issue once it submit its accounts on the construction of the temporary bridge to them, according to sources.

The temple which claims to have spent `36 lakh so far on building the bridge , was hoping to have the money reimbursed once the government sanctioned the neccessary funds.