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The Kerala High Court has flayed the state government for not complying with its order regarding the maintenance of roads in the state. Justice P R Ramachandra Menon had sought the government’s suggestion on the setting up of a separate body to monitor the appropriation and utilisation of funds for maintenance of roads.

It asked the government why a reasonable extent of the motor vehicle tax collected by the state under the provisions of the Kerala Motor Vehicles Taxation Act-1976 cannot be ordered to be earmarked for the maintenance of roads.

In July, the court had directed the state government to file an affidavit detailing the amounts earmarked and utilised for the development and maintenance of roads across the state.

It had directed the state to explain steps taken to implement performance guarantee of roads.The state government has not yet filed any affidavit and repeatedly sought adjournments. The court granted three weeks’ time to the government. It passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Shine Joseph of Thattampadi and M K Pratheesh of Koonammavu against the inaction of the state government in repairing roads damaged due to monsoon.

The petitioners submitted that many accidents, including deaths, were occurring due to potholes, which appeared only because of unscientific methods adopted by the contractors engaged by the government.

They pointed out that potholes were present even on those roads where toll is being collected. The court observed that the so-called rectification steps to improve the quality and condition of the roads were taking place on a snail’s pace.

Source-On Request