Kochi Corporation to Seek Vigilance Probe into G Memorial and P&T Complex

Key Facts

• The Kochi Corporation will recommend a Vigilance probe into the construction of the G Memorial and the P&T Apartment Complex.
• The G Memorial was built at a cost of nearly ₹6 crore and inaugurated in February 2024 by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
• The G Memorial was alleged to have a construction cost per square foot exceeding ₹8,000.
• A report from the Public Works department denied that nearby construction caused the G Memorial to tilt.
• A consultancy suggested increased vehicular movement during construction was responsible for the memorial's tilt.
• UDF parliamentary party secretary M.G. Aristotle alleged the G Memorial is a symbol of corruption and questioned altering the design to include an open-air stage.
• V.A. Sreejith, LDF parliamentary party leader, cautioned against reducing the issue to blaming the previous LDF council and former Mayor M. Anilkumar.
• The Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant at Brahmapuram has processed an average of 50 tonnes of waste daily, below its optimum capacity of 150 tonnes.
• BPCL-KR, the project funder, requires waste of 97% purity, free of plastic and non-biodegradable components.
• The Mayor stressed the need for the sanitation committee to ensure proper waste segregation at source through meetings with residents' associations.

Background

During the council meeting, UDF councillors voiced concerns about alleged corruption related to the G Memorial. M.G. Aristotle, UDF parliamentary party secretary, described the memorial as a symbol of corruption and questioned design modifications, such as adding an open-air stage in a region with extensive rainfall. He also highlighted the high per-square-foot construction cost.

Conversely, V.A. Sreejith, LDF parliamentary party leader, urged that while shortcomings must be addressed, the matter should not become an attempt to assign blame to the previous LDF council and former Mayor M. Anilkumar, who initiated the memorial's construction. The Mayor also mentioned that the Public Works department's report denied nearby construction caused the memorial to tilt, while the involved consultancy attributed the issue to increased vehicular traffic during construction.

Separately, the Mayor discussed the Compressed Biogas (CBG) plant at Brahmapuram, noting it processes approximately 50 tonnes of waste daily, significantly less than its potential 150-tonne capacity. The funding agency, BPCL-KR, has specified a requirement for waste purity of 97%, free from plastic and other non-biodegradable materials. The Mayor emphasized the sanitation committee's role in ensuring proper waste segregation at the source by engaging with residents' associations.