Panchikkad Bridge plea considered during July

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister’s Office on Saturday said that the request for bridge at Panchikkad Kadavu in the Neyyattinkara constituency was considered for being accorded administrative and special sanction during the last session of the Assembly in July, 2011. A statement issued here by the Chief Minister’s office said that the Assembly records showed that PWD Minister Ebrahim Kunju had offered to  consider the plea while responding to a submission by  Selvaraj MLA on July 11, 2011. In 2005, administrative  sanction had been given to Panchikkadu kadavu bridge for Rs 5.26 crore. As the PWD had revised the rates, the construction could not be started. Following this, the amount got lapsed. Though the Chief Engineer had   submitted an estimate worth `8.40 crore  in 2009, administrative sanction was not  granted. The statement said Selvaraj had  presented a submission in this regard from the beginning of the 13th Assembly. In July, the PWD minister told the member that an estimate worth  Rs 16 crore was being prepared by the Chief Engineer and when it was made available to the government sanction would be granted.  This assurance has been honoured now abiding by all rules and regulations. The statement said it was imperative that the assurances being given on the floor of the House should be honoured. It is to pay for acquiring land that Rs 16 crore was sanctioned.  The demand for  construction of a new building for the taluk office at Neyyattinkara was also there.  Administrative sanction for Rs 3 crore was given.  The statement said the government had no  political consideration in granting  funds for developmental activities.  It also said that Rs 264 crore worth funds was sanctioned for development projects in the 64  constituencies represented by Opposition members in the last four months.