Kalamassery Municipality's 47.2% Plan Fund Utilisation Lowest in Ernakulam
As the financial year concluded, data from the local self-government department revealed stark disparities in plan fund utilisation among municipalities in Ernakulam district. Kalamassery municipality emerged with the lowest performance, spending only 47.2% of its allocated plan funds, while Angamaly municipality achieved the highest utilisation at 78.37%.
Financial Performance Details
Despite being one of the wealthiest local bodies in the district, Kalamassery municipality managed to expend merely Rs 8.01 crore out of its total plan fund allocation of Rs 16.87 crore. This poor performance placed it at a dismal 77th rank among 87 municipalities across the state. In contrast, Angamaly municipality demonstrated efficient financial management by utilising Rs 5.18 crore out of Rs 6.61 crore, securing the third position statewide in plan fund utilisation.
Varied Utilisation Across Ernakulam
The plan expenditure dashboard highlighted uneven implementation of development projects throughout Ernakulam. Only a handful of municipalities surpassed the 70% utilisation mark, with many remaining below 60%. Specific figures include:
- Muvattupuzha: 62%
- Paravur: 60.44%
- Piravom: 59.31%
- Kothamangalam: 58.21%
- Thrikkakara: 57.29%
- Tripunithura: 56.39%
- Eloor: 55.10%
- North Paravur: 54.04%
- Maradu: 48.87%
Reasons for Low Utilisation
Numerous local bodies attributed the delays in project execution and low plan fund utilisation to acute staff shortages. This scarcity hindered the timely submission of bills to the treasury, resulting in stalled development initiatives. Unlike own funds, plan funds cannot be carried forward to the subsequent financial year, leading to significant losses in resources earmarked for critical development projects.
Implications for Development
The failure to fully utilise plan funds has severe repercussions for local development. Projects essential for infrastructure, public services, and community welfare remain incomplete or uninitiated, exacerbating regional inequalities. The data underscores an urgent need for administrative reforms and enhanced capacity building within local self-government institutions to optimise financial resource management and ensure equitable progress across Ernakulam.
