KOTTAYAM: With only three months to go before the end of the financial year, the local bodies have spent only 35.42 per cent of the plan outlay. Out of Rs 6306.84 crore, only Rs 2233.57 crore was spent on development activities in nine months. Rs 4073.27 crore is unspent.

Not a single district in the state has spent fifty per cent. Nine districts are below the state average (35.42%). If the allotted amount is not spent, the rest will be lost except for a certain percentage. Last time, only 20 per cent of the unspent amount was allowed as spill over.

During the review meetings, officials explained that Covid and the lockdown had affected the implementation of the project. The government has issued a stern directive that development activities are not implemented fastly enough.

Thrissur in front

Thrissur district topped the list with 40.08 per cent expenditure. The capital district ranks ninth. The situation of Palakkad, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Wayanad, Malappuram, Kasaragod and Idukki districts is also deplorable.

District, amount spent

Thrissur: 40.08%

Kollam: 38.69%

Alappuzha: 37.08%

Kozhikode: 36.26

Kannur: 35.61%

Palakkad: 34.95%

Kottayam: 34.74%

Ernakulam: 34.63%

Thiruvananthapuram: 33.95%

Pathanamthitta: 33.93%

Wayanad: 33.06%

Malappuram: 33.04%

Kasaragod: 33.01%

Idukki: 32.05%