MALAPPURAM: The plan to exclude government's free software 'Sanketham' and bring a private company's software to submit applications at self-governing offices, for constructing buildings is facing alot of backlash. This will give an opportunity for the Multi National Companies to collect crores of rupees. It has been decided to use IBPMS (Intelligent Building Plan Management System) software, developed by a soft-tech company in Pune in five corporations except Kozhikode and Guruvayur, Palakkad, Alappuzha municipalities.

In 'Sanketham' software, developed by Information Kerala Mission, plans using softwares that cost less than Rs 10,000 can be submitted. However, in IBPMS only 'Autocad', developed by US tech giant Autodesk can be submitted. AutoCAD costs around Rs 1 lakh. This should be given on a yearly basis and licence should be renewed.

There are about 20,000 licenced engineers and architects in the state. About 15,000 of them are active. However, onlyfew of them use AutoCAD, many use softwares that costs less than Rs 10,000. All of them will be forced to buy AutoCAD. This costs about Rs 150 crore yearly. They are trying to bring down the cost by using another software that costs about Rs 35,000 yearly.