KOCHI: A division with a majority of Latin population, Nazarath is dominated by the fishing community. With many slums and colonies in the area, the division has many problems unique to itself.
Councillor K J Antony says that housing is a major problem in the division. “I have done my best to solve housing problems. We have sanctioned 167 houses under the Basic Service to the Urban Poor (BSUP) project, of which more than half has been completed. Forty houses were given under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojna (VAMBAY). There are many slums in the area, funds has been allocated under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) projects for the renovation of dilapidated buildings. Funds has been given for the development of the Rameswaram and Fishermen colonies.” He says that the development of roads is another aspect that he has concentrated on. “Around 15 roads have been raised and tarred including the Fishermen’s Colony Road, Nazarath Janatha Road, Bank Quarters Road, and the Moolamkuzhi-Chellanam-Pandikudi Road.”
The division fund has also been utilised to develop some roads like the Kallukulam Road. The road was made bigger raising the culvert. Another road that has been developed is the one from the Bank Quarters to the Statue Junction. Antony says that a Fisheries Bhavan was built spending around ` 20 lakh from the People’s Planning fund. “About ` 25 lakh has been set aside in the Corporation budget to allocate water connection to the houses in the area which has been utilised. This is something that even other wards in the division can emulate.” He says that the division fund has been utilised to raise and concrete roads, to clean and maintain the drains and to install street lights in the area. “Proper maintenance of drains has reduced waterlogging problems in the area,” he says.
The councillor points out that ` 18 lakh has been allocated under the SC/ ST fund for infrastructure development in the Harijan colony. “This fund was used to build the Ambedkar memorial community hall. Plans are also on for two anganwadis to be renovated with the money from the People’s Planning fund.”
Residents in the area say that much needs to be done to improve the living standards of people in the slums. They complain that most houses in the slums are in a dilapidated state and hence they need urgent attention. Housing for the landless is another problem. There are also complaints of waterlogging in some areas during heavy rains.
The division is reserved for women this time. The LDF and the UDF claim equal chances of victory here.
kochi@expressbuzz.com