More allegations coming to light: Construction contract of ABC centre in Kannur for Divya's benami company?

KANNUR: More allegations are coming to light in connection with the construction contracts awarded after PP Divya became the district panchayat president. The latest allegation is related to pre-fabricated constructions carried out by Carton India Alliance Pvt Ltd, a startup that is the only company to get a construction contract since 2021. It has come to light that the company got contracts worth more than Rs 12 crore in the last three to three years. The manufacturing contract for pre-fabricated constructions is taken up by Silk, a public-sector undertaking. A tender will be called for the silk subcontract. The sub-contract has been awarded to the Carton Company for three years. The carton company manufactures modular toilets and buildings. The company had built the ABC centre at Padiyoor in Irikkur, where stray dogs are housed and sterilised. The district panchayat had congratulated the company for completing the construction in a short span of time.

However, there are strong allegations that there are irregularities in its construction. Other companies had approached but did not get the contract.

The building was constructed in a prefabricated manner at a cost of Rs 63 lakh after being included in the district panchayat's annual plan for 2021-2022. It was claimed that cages have been set up to house 100 dogs. It is alleged that only 50 dogs can be accommodated. Other facilities include operation theatres, pre- and post-operative rooms, dormitory for employees, ABC office, store and waste disposal systems. There are also complaints about the quality of these.

Construction contract of schools also under doubt

• The same company undertook contracts for the construction of 30 schools under the district panchayat in the year 2023-24 alone. The work of 46 schools was also given to the same company in the year 2022-23.
• There were allegations that the carton company had indulged in corruption in putting up billboards in local bodies. A billboard costing only Rs 57,000 was made for Rs 3 lakh.