Thiruvananthapuram, July 15: Kerala Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan today informed that Local Self Government (LSG) bodies in the State who are at the forefront of Covid defence activities and services would have no restrictions on their expenses related to preventive measures.

Briefing media, the Chief Minister said, “Two instalments of plan allocations have already been released and the third instalment for local bodies will be released next week. LSG bodies can spend from the plan fund on setting up quarantine and reverse quarantine facilities, give additional assistance to Covid hospitals, set up first-line treatment centres and run community kitchens without the prior approval of the District Planning Committee. The necessary arrangements will be made in the treasury and the district planning committees would regularise such projects later. The project expenses will be reimbursed from the Disaster Relief Fund.”

LSG Secretaries should submit the relevant documents and the remaining amount will be allocated as part of the plan outlay. District Collectors have been directed to obtain the required additional funds from the Disaster Relief Fund. They will also receive additional funding from the CMDRF to spend as needed.

“LSG bodies should not face financial difficulties and Covid preventive measures should not suffer because there is no money. All the local bodies should move forward with more vigour in the Covid defence activities”, the CM added.