<p class="title">As the Kerala government prepares to engage global consultancy firm KPMG in its massive rebuilding programme for the flood-ravaged state, the Opposition Congress party has raised concern pointing to scandals that have hit the firm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has written to the CPM-led state government, seeking an assessment of the company’s credentials before it is roped in for the rebuilding exercise.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chennithala quoted reports in international media on an investigation into serious discrepancies regarding auditing and other irregularities that the Netherlands-headquartered company faces in the US, UK, UAE and South Africa.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Considering that the Dutch government has offered technical assistance to the state, shouldn't we accept that? They have a proven record in handling floods and reconstruction (after disasters)," the Opposition leader said in a Facebook post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On August 31, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had announced that KPMG would be the consultant-partner in the government's efforts to rebuild the state after the devastating floods and landslides that killed 336 people since August 8.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As of Monday, 9,554 people are living in 158 camps in the state. The consultancy firm has offered services free of cost.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Veteran Congress leader and the party’s former state chief V M Sudheeran said the government should probe allegations against the company before firming up an agreement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Minister for Industries E P Jayarajan who is monitoring the post-flood rehabilitation and rebuilding exercise in the absence of the chief minister — who is in the US for medical treatment — said the government was going ahead with the KPMG tie-up. </p>
<p class="title">As the Kerala government prepares to engage global consultancy firm KPMG in its massive rebuilding programme for the flood-ravaged state, the Opposition Congress party has raised concern pointing to scandals that have hit the firm.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala has written to the CPM-led state government, seeking an assessment of the company’s credentials before it is roped in for the rebuilding exercise.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Chennithala quoted reports in international media on an investigation into serious discrepancies regarding auditing and other irregularities that the Netherlands-headquartered company faces in the US, UK, UAE and South Africa.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Considering that the Dutch government has offered technical assistance to the state, shouldn't we accept that? They have a proven record in handling floods and reconstruction (after disasters)," the Opposition leader said in a Facebook post.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On August 31, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had announced that KPMG would be the consultant-partner in the government's efforts to rebuild the state after the devastating floods and landslides that killed 336 people since August 8.</p>.<p class="bodytext">As of Monday, 9,554 people are living in 158 camps in the state. The consultancy firm has offered services free of cost.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Veteran Congress leader and the party’s former state chief V M Sudheeran said the government should probe allegations against the company before firming up an agreement.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Minister for Industries E P Jayarajan who is monitoring the post-flood rehabilitation and rebuilding exercise in the absence of the chief minister — who is in the US for medical treatment — said the government was going ahead with the KPMG tie-up. </p>