Even as the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the Kochi Corporation claims that the deployment of K-Smart application for providing services of the Local Self-Government department (LSGD) digitally over a uniform platform has increased the speed and efficiency of the delivery of public services, the Opposition United Democratic Front has countered it, arguing that it has only complicated the processing of files while blocking out councillors from accessing files.

In a statement issued here, Mayor M. Anilkumar said buildings left out of K-Smart had been included by conducting adalats and timely data purification procedures in compliance with the Government Order. Details of vacancy remission, demolished structures, and buildings owned by ex-servicemen are also being updated in K-Smart.

However, Mr. Anilkumar said despite these efforts, many buildings might still be left out of the application and urged building owners to verify matters online. In the event their buildings were found left out, they should approach either the Corporation main office or zonal offices and submit Form-2 thus ensuring that their buildings are listed online before March 31, he added.

Senior Congress leader Antony Kureethara said the introduction of K-Smart had restricted access of files to officials with relevant credentials, thus blocking out councillors from accessing files. If the officials concerned are on leave on a particular day, then there is no way to access relevant files on that day.

Also, in the event that an application submitted is found incomplete, it is rejected summarily without giving the applicant time to correct anomalies like submitting missing documents, thus forcing the applicant to submit a fresh application. “The application has not hastened the operations either as has been claimed. Also, a majority of the modules of K-Smart are yet to kick in,” Mr. Kureethara said.

Property tax

The Mayor has urged the public to pay property tax without fines by making use of the government’s decision to spare fines till March 31. As part of 100% tax collection, officials have been put in charge of various sections at the Corporation’s main office, or zonal offices, and they should be approached for resolving complaints regarding online service delivery.