Latest news with #K-Smart
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Illegal flags and boards: Audit plaints received through K-Smart app, Kerala HC tells LSGI secretary
Kochi: High court has directed the local self-govt institutions (LSGI) secretary to conduct an audit of complaints received through the 'K-Smart' application regarding the placing of unauthorised boards, flags and similar materials across the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Devan Ramachandran issued the directive while considering a 2018 petition seeking judicial intervention against the illegal erection of boards, banners, flags and festoons in public spaces. The bench had earlier disposed of the petition on March 13, directing secretaries of local self-govt institutions to strictly enforce the court's orders and relevant state govt circulars to curb the menace. A compliance report was also ordered. However, the amicus curiae informed HC that complaints lodged through the 'K-Smart' application were not being properly accounted for or acted upon. Taking serious note of this, the court directed the LSGI secretary to audit the complaints received on 'K-Smart' since the date of the judgment and submit a report by June 6 detailing the number of complaints received, action taken, fines collected, FIRs registered and officers responsible. The amicus curiae also highlighted that, although the Thiruvananthapuram corporation had recently removed a large number of unauthorised boards, many still remained. The corporation's standing counsel confirmed that over 4,500 boards had been removed about a week ago and that further removal was in progress. The court remarked that the issue can be effectively tackled only through the imposition of fines and the initiation of criminal proceedings. It also sought a detailed report from the corporation secretary on the matter.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
UDF, LDF spar over audit report in Kalamassery municipality
The ruling United Democratic Front and the Opposition Left front in Kalamassery municipality have crossed swords over an audit report that had allegedly detected gaps in the financial management of the civic body. The Opposition councillors blamed the ruling front for the fiasco whereas the ruling front has rejected the allegations while stating that they were ready for any investigation into the allegations. The audit report for the fiscal 2023-24 of the municipality had pointed out that cheques for a total amount of about ₹2.3 crore deposited in various banks from April 2010 to January 2024 had not yet been reflected in the respective accounts. The report found that there was proof for having received the cheques, but it was not reflected in the relevant accounts. The audit department found alleged shortcomings in the collection and agreements signed in connection with the allotment of buildings owned by the civic body and given on rent. There were no rent agreements for around 15 of the 58 buildings given on rent. The audit found that the software for rent collection had showed an arrear of about ₹39.4 lakh while the balance sheet had mentioned it as only ₹18. 5 lakh. The ruling front rejected the allegations that funds were missing from the accounts of the civic body. They blamed the glitches in the government's K-Smart software for the alleged shortcomings mentioned in the audit report. It had claimed that the transfer of various funds was not reflected in the civic body's accounts owing to software issues. The Left front has decided to hold an agitation against the alleged financial irregularities at the municipality office on May 29. It has also demanded an inquiry into the findings in the report. The ruling front has said that it was ready to face any inquiry into the allegations.
New Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Thrikkakara municipal chairperson defends council, says audit report false
KOCHI: On the defensive after the audit report for 2023-24 revealed major financial discrepancies in Thrikkakara municipality, chairperson Radhamani Pillai on Wednesday alleged that it was an election gimmick to defame the council as the local body election is nearing. Addressing the media, Radhamani said the municipality had submitted documents of every transaction to the Kerala State Audit Department (KSAD) but were not accepted. There is no corruption involved, she claimed. 'These cheques are handled by the secretary. Councillors are not involved in these matters. Also, the documents and files are moved through K-Smart. The false report is an attempt to defame the current council,' Radhamani said. The audit report released by the KSAD on May 9 flagged serious financial discrepancies in the municipality, pointing to corruption and lapses in financial dealings, and revealed that cheques for Rs 7.5 crore, collected and deposited, were not credited to the bank account.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Kerala's first tribal panchayat gets a ‘smart' panchayat office
After 15 years of its formation, Edamalakkudy, the first tribal panchayat in the State, has a central office system with K-Smart facility. Minister for Local Self-Governments M.B. Rajesh will inaugurate the renovated panchayat office at Societykudy on Tuesday. Edamalakkudy panchayat secretary Arun Kumar N. said the building had been constructed at a cost of ₹4.2 lakh. 'Certificates will now be issued by the Edamalakkudy panchayat through K-Smart that makes available services of local self-government institutions on a uniform platform,' said Mr. Kumar. Panchayat president Eshwari said that 850 families in the 236-sq km area of the panchayat would benefit from the move. Earlier, people had to travel 35 km off-road to go to the panchayat office at Devikulam, incurring around ₹6,000 in transportation cost alone. 'Now, people can come to the panchayat office and avail themselves of various services on the same day,' she said. Wild elephant attack The panchayat office remained in Devikulam since the formation of the grama panchayat in 2010 because of a lack of mobile connectivity and other infrastructure in Societykudy. In 2022, it was decided to shift the panchayat headquarters to Societykudy in phases. An office was set up, but wild elephants destroyed the building. The area has an active presence of wild animals, including elephants. 'To keep wild animal at bay, a trench has been dug around one hectare of land in the area,' said the official. The people of Edamalakkudy will get an ambulance with four-wheel drive from Tuesday. The Kochi-based Petronet LNG Ltd. purchased the vehicle from its CSR fund. 'Through the ambulance facility, the patients can reach the hospital off-road quickly,' said an official. Devikulam Subcollector V.M. Jayakrishnan will flag off the ambulance service. Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose will inaugurate the community hall, and district panchayat president Joseph Kuruvila and Ms. Eshwari will inaugurate two anganwadis. Munnar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) will hand over to the Local Self-Governments Minister the documents of the land allotted to the panchayat for developmental activities. Idukki Collector V. Vigneshwari will attend the function.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Mayor's helpdesk set to open at Thiruvananthapuram Corporation
Visitors to the Thiruvananthapuram city Corporation will henceforth find it easier to navigate through the various departments spread across the main office at Palayam. The civic body has set up a Mayor's helpdesk to ease service delivery for city residents. The helpdesk, set to open in the first week of May, has been set up near the entry point to the main office. 'Through this helpdesk, we are aiming at providing the best quality of service at the shortest time possible to the public,' Mayor Arya Rajendran told The Hindu. One of the major aims of the helpdesk will be to aid the people, especially senior citizens, who have been finding it hard to use the government's K-Smart (Kerala Solutions for Managing Administrative Reformation and Transformation) platform for digital delivery of service. After the services through urban local bodies shifted to K-Smart last year, a section of the public who are not digitally savvy has been depending on Akshaya centres to get things done. The personnel at the Mayor's helpdesk will provide assistance to visitors. According to Corporation officials, the personnel at the helpdesk will also assist the people in approaching the relevant section for various issues related to the local body. It will be the first point of contact for visitors to the Corporation. Ten officials will be deployed at the helpdesk to help the public. The furnishing and interior work for the helpdesk was completed under the Smart City project at a cost of ₹41.14 lakh. The helpdesk is in addition to the Janasevana Kendram, which is currently functioning at the Integrated Command Control Centre complex near the main entrance. A mayor's cell, to handle complaints and requests to the Mayor, has been functioning at the Corporation for the past few years.
