Don’t want Rahul Gandhi’s fund, Mukkam municipality returns 40 lakh allotted, move to challenge people, says Congress

KOZHIKODE: The Mukkam Municipality has demanded that Rs 40 lakh sanctioned from Rahul Gandhi MP's Local Development Fund for Mukkam Community Health Centre for the construction of a new building be taken back. They said there is some technical difficulty in spending Rs 40 lakh this year.

The municipality administration which met on June 6 decided to cancel Rs 40 lakh. The Mukkam municipal secretary sent a letter to the collector and the district planning officer raising the demand.

The letter said the allotted amount could not be spent this year as the CHC’s master plan is being prepared. Kozhikode Collector has sent a letter to Rahul Gandhi asking to take an appropriate decision on the issue.

Meantime, opposition parties, including the Congress have come out in protest against the move. The Congress alleged the CPM ruled municipality for playing politics. The Congress also pointed out that the municipality was challenging the people. The municipality is withdrawing the allotted amount at a time when the locals are demanding a 24-hour hospital and inpatient treatment along with the emergency department.

Rs 40 lakh was sanctioned from Rahul Gandhi MP's regional development fund for the construction of the new building. The opposition alleged that the move is to protect the CPM-controlled co-operative hospital near Mukkam Community Health Center.

The authorities said that around Rs 3 crore has been sanctioned from KIIFB for the construction of a building for the community health centre, and that is why the money granted by Rahul was not taken. The Congress is preparing to launch an agitation against the municipality’s act.