Irregularities come to stay in guest houses

KOCHI: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) on Tuesday conducted raids at two guest houses and five rest houses in Ernakulam.The VACB officials have found discrepancies in the functioning and in maintaining the accounts of the guest houses and rest houses.The raids were conducted as part of the state-wide drive under the codename ‘Operation Aditi'. The raids, conducted by Ernakulam VACB SP T Vikram, checked guest houses at Ernakulam and Aluva. PWD rest houses at Kakkanad, North Paravoor, Perumbavoor and Muvattupuzha were checked as part of the drive.At the Ernakulam guest house, the officials found that it has not maintained proper accounts in collecting rents. The funds have been diverted for some other purpose. The rooms have been occupied by some people, including Jomon Puthenpurackal, a human rights activist, for many years.At the Aluva guest house, irregularities were found in the maintaining of the registers.All the PWD rest houses at Perumbavoor, Muvattupuzha, Kakkanad and North Paravoor were not maintaining proper registers regarding the rent collection and the number of occupants.The managers at these guest houses were illegally involved in operating the canteen and some have taken bribe for gaining the contract for canteen service. At the Ernakulam guest house, irregularities were found regarding the use of generators and the diesel used for it. At the Kakkanad rest house, the officials found that rooms were occupied by several people while the register recorded the name of only one occupant.One guest house and four rest houses in Palakkad were also checked as part of the drive.