P K Gurudasan MLA, has expressed concern over the inordinate delay in renovating the 7.7-km-long Kollam Canal included in the 78-km Kollam-Kovalam state waterway project.
As many as 1,728 people living on the banks of the canal were rehabilitated except 80 families living in Thamarakkulam.
The delay in rehabilitating these 80 families hinders the Canal renovation, according to a press note issued here on Wednesday by the MLA.
District Collector B Mohanan assured that all of them would be rehabilitated and the funds for the same had also been sanctioned.
“The 80 families living at Thamarakkulam were not happy with the rehabilitation package and resisted to move into the rehabilitation flats. Due to this the Revenue Minister had fixed a new package for them. The flats constructed for Tsunami Rehabilitation Package and Rs 2 lakh were included in the new package and it was acceptable to the residents,” Gurudasan said. However, even after a year the officials concerned did not rehabilitate any of these 80 families.
“Political pressure may ruin this package and the renovation of Canal project will remain a distant dream,” Gurudasan said. The Rs 10.05 crore allotted for the renovation of the stretch remains unused for over a year now. “People were not happy with the earlier rehabilitation package and the revised package offered later was acceptable to them. There is no delay and it will take its usual course,” the Collector said.