Oppn. accuses Kochi Mayor of ‘abuse of power’ over extension of biomining agreement

The opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) attempted to corner Mayor VK Minimol on Saturday, May 30, 2026, accusing him of ‘abusing his power’ by illegally extending the agreement with the former waste biomining company after the original contract expired, without consulting the council.

LDF parliamentary party leader VA Sreejith had written to the Corporation secretary on Friday, May 29, 2026, raising the issue. In his letter, he claimed that the decision taken at the council meeting on January 27 was recorded in the minutes by mistake. He pointed out that the decision of the National Institute of Technology-Calicut (NIT-C) to submit the file to the council after completing its research to estimate the remaining volume of old waste to be bioremoved and taking legal opinion was violated.

Raising the issue in the council, Mr. Sreejith registered the Opposition’s protest against the decision to extend the agreement with Bhumi Green Energy beyond its expiration date to March 13, 2026, without consulting the council. “The renewed agreement must be canceled,” he said.

The Corporation council, led by the United Democratic Front, had given an extension of time to complete the biomining of the remaining legacy waste just before the Assembly election notification. Ms. Minimol had claimed that the management committee, through intense negotiations, managed to reduce the biomining rate per tonne by ₹ 18 from the earlier fixed ₹ 1,690, thus saving the Company around ₹ 60 lakh. He also stated that the extension given between April and May is the most suitable period for biomining as the waste tonnage will increase during the monsoon season.

The opposition also criticized the management committee for what it described as failure in pre-monsoon work. Mr. Sreejith said many areas in the city were flooded due to overnight rain on Friday. “It is not possible for the board of directors to escape criticism by placing all the blame on the authorities. In fact, the assistant executive engineers were also involved at this point, but things were still affected,” he said.

Ms Minimol said a WhatsApp group, including officials, started reporting the waterlogging and related issues. “Authorities have been asked to report the measures taken along with photographs. Inaction can also be reported within the group,” he said.

Mr. Sreejith, however, pointed out the officials’ response that estimates were being prepared and stated that the monsoon would be over by the time work started on the ground. He also criticized the placement of boards in divisions, with the Mayor announcing that the Mayor had allocated ₹ 13 lakh per division for pre-monsoon works.