Divert funds for road works to fight virus: CPM

CHENNAI: CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan on Friday urged Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to cancel the state highways department tenders worth Rs 10,000 crore and use that fund for tackling COVID-19 and public relief.

In a statement, CPM state secretary Balakrishnan said that though the roads, public works and other works are necessary, the priority should be given to COVID-19 related works. “When there was a difficulty in meeting the planned expenditure, there was no need for calling tenders for five-year road maintenance contract where the fund would be paid to the contractor in advance for the maintenance work. This would only lead to irregularities,” he said, pointing to the state highways department calling for a tender for maintaining 833 km at a cost of Rs 1,827 crore in Thanjavur.

He noted that the state government has mentioned that the state debt has touched Rs 4.53 lakh core and there would be Rs 43,000 crore revenue shortfall in this year budget. “Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the state revenue was severely impacted. The Chief Minister himself has stated that the state would be losing Rs 85,000 crore revenue. The state’s unplanned expenditure has been going up in particular for the COVID-19 related expenses of the Health Department,” he said.

At this juncture, he said that the state highways department has called for tenders worth Rs 10,000 crore amid criticism and questioning. “Hence the state government should take up only important road works and tenders called for other works should be suspended and the fund should be diverted for COVID-19 treatment and relief works,” he demanded.