End of the road for Ahads

KOCHI: At a time when the government is going in for financial assistance from the JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) for the Kochi Metro Rail project, Ahads, one of the first JICA-financed projects in the state, is being shut down. In a communique issued a couple of days ago, the state government has made it clear that the functioning of Ahads will be wound up by March 2012.Conceptualised in 1995, the Attappadi Hill Area Development Society (Ahads) started functioning a decade ago. Of the Rs 219 crore spent for the project, an amount of Rs 176 crore was taken as financial assistance from JICA.With Ahads being closed down, the fate of around 300 employees is hanging in the balance. “A decision was taken to close down Ahads years ago. However, it got extended many times. The project was supposed to end by December 31. In a latest communication from the Local Self-Government (LSG) Department, the Attappadi Wasteland Development Project under Ahads has been extended up to March 31. However, the financial assistance for running the project should be found by Ahads only,” said sources. The communication further asked the Ahads project director to cut down the number of employees to the minimum. “It is learnt that project director Krishna Prasad Sahu has already prepared a list of around 15 employees needed for running the office and clearing the files, to function up to March 31. While winding up such a major project which has brought in a major revolution to a backward area like Attappadi, the government should have taken a decision about those working with it,” said one of the senior officials of Ahads. However, the Local Self-Government officials pointed out that there is no provision for a compensation package for the employees in a project. “The decision to wind up the project has already been taken. We cannot extend the project by giving another work, as it would invite criticism from the auditors. As of now, the project is moving towards closure. We have submitted various proposals before the Centre for its revamp. If anything is getting cleared, it would continue. A final decision regarding the infrastructure of Ahads has not been made till now,” Local Self-Government Department Principal Secretary James Varghese said.