THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Evidence has surfaced that the Administrative Reforms Commission, which was started during the first Pinarayi government under the chairmanship of former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, was nothing but a high maintenance white elephant. So far, the commission has submitted 13 reports to the government, but not a single one has been implemented. The total cost of the commission including salary is Rs.10,79,29,050.

The figures were announced by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in response to a question from PC Vishnunath MLA. The Chief Minister said in his reply to the Assembly that a committee chaired by the Chief Secretary has been constituted to evaluate the reports submitted by the Commission and take decisions on them.

The first report of the Commission on vigilance reform was submitted in 2017. Subsequently, the Commission submitted two reports in 2018, one in 2019, four in 2020 and five in 2021. In April 2021, the Commission stopped its functioning.