Funds lapsed in local bodies ruled by Twenty20: Cong

Kochi: Congress leaders have come up with allegations that funds got lapsed in the panchayats ruled by Twenty20. In news conference in Kochi on Saturday, Congress leader and MP Benny Behanan alleged that lapsing funds crippled the development projects in those panchayats.Behanan said that Twenty20, which was ruling Kizhakkambalam grama panchayat, lapsed around Rs 20 crore in the past ten years. In Mazhuvannoor, another grama panchayat ruled by Twenty20, around Rs 13 crore was lapsed due to mismanagement, he alleged. Similarly, around Rs 2 crore got lapsed in Aikkaranadu grama panchayat, he said.Various grants provided by Union and state govts and panchayats' own funds are included in the lapsed money, Behanan said. While around Rs 20 crore is deposited with the bank, 107 projects remain incomplete in Kizhakkambalam, he added. Still, Twenty20 leader Sabu Jacob is claiming that Kizhakkambalam panchayat has a surplus of Rs 32 crore, he said. The panchayat authorities in Aikkaranadu and Mazhuvannoor are depositing funds in banks even while many projects are yet to be implemented, he said.