Going back on their word, the Kerala State Water Transport Department (KSWTD)authiorities are currently refusing to pay for the renovation of the Ernakulam Boat Jetty here. According to the officials with the Greater Cochin Development Authority, they had taken up the work of the boat jetty, provided that the KSWTD would fund the project.
“Initially, we were told that once we make the estimate, we would be paid the amount which would enable us to start work. However, they are at present refusing to aid us with the project. We won’t spent money on the project, which is not ours,” said GCDA chairman N Venugopal. The total cost of the project is Rs 23 lakhs. “We submitted a proposal stating that we would set tiles and concretise the floors so as to avoid the constant formation of potholes in the region.
Also, there were plans to set up a pay and park facility, which would hugely benefit the KSWTD,” he said. However speaking on this, Kerala State Water Transport Department Ernakulam Superintendent Xavier Joseph said that the GCDA was handed the charge of developing the boat Jetty along with the responsibility of funding the project.”Since we were facing paucity of funds, the job was handed over to the GCDA. ALso, the land does not belong to us and hence we cannot do much,” he said. “We were only told to clean up the area so that the work could be effectively done by the GCDA. For this purpose, we have also appointed three ladies to clean the area. However, now the GCDA is refusing to do the job,” Xavier added. Three months ago, when the Transport Minister Aryadan Mohammed had visited the Jetty, he was agitated to see the situation at the spot. He had ordered for the immediate cleaning up of the Jetty which was filled with slushy soil and potholes.
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