How should the city be by 2031? Is the Vizhinjam international container transshipment terminal meant for the development of coastal area alone? Where will the greenery go, if the proposals in the draft master plan get implemented as they are? How will the green zone and mobility hub go hand in hand at Akkulam?
Questions and suggestions poured in from the ‘city’zens from different walks of lives gathered inside Kanakakkunnu Palace Hall for the one-day workshop discussing the draft master plan on Tuesday afternoon. To decongest the busy places, former minister R Sundaresan Nair suggested construction of relief roads. Towards ensuring potable drinking water, he pointed out the need to connect Neyyar Dam and Aruvikkara with a water system. And to get ‘Vision 2031’ realised, he stressed the need for co-operation between the Govt and Corporation.
Another participant highlighted the need to lay focus on the economically weaker sections and adopt a gender-sensitive approach in the plan. For the improvement of Kovalam and Vizhinjam, a method giving equal prominence to fishing, tourism and green and blue areas was another suggestion.
On road-widening, Sridhar Radhakrishnan representing Thanal said: “The plan has to take a more realistic view in terms of the development of roads and has to be re-drafted.”
Former Town Planner A Kasturi Rangan pointed out the need to present the proposals more strategically than the current vague concept-level presentation. In his opinion, a high intensity development for Kovalam requires reconsideration so that it should not hamper the tourism prospects.
The workshop was earlier inaugurated by Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali. V Sivankutty MLA, Mayor K Chandrika, opposition leaders in the council Johnson Joseph of the UDF and P Asok Kumar of the BJP also spoke. Deputy Mayor G Happykumar and standing committee chairpersons were present. After the inauguration, regional town planner Ajaya Kumar S and town planner K Baiju gave powerpoint presentations on the plan.
Protest Over english Version
T’Puram: When Malayalam basks in the glory of attaining classical status, the master plan for the development of the capital city of God’s Own Country printed in English evoked protest in the workshop held here on Tuesday.
V Sivankutty MLA, in his felicitation speech during the inaugural ceremony, was the first to express discontent over not printing the draft plan in Malayalam. But before the presentation of the draft plan in brief, the councillors protested in the Kanakakkunnu Palace Hall, saying that many could not comprehend the proposals as they were presented in the English language.
Meanwhile, following an assurance on making available the copy in Malayalam in the first week of June, the situation could be controlled. In between came the announcement of Mayor K Chandrika that she would receive the finalised draft master plan in Malayalam only.
In the discussion held in the afternoon, therefore, the councillors did not get involved as the Mayor said a separate discussion will be convened for them. Yet, it has to be seen whether the civic body can accomplish the task in the stipulated time as the 60 days allocated as per the Town Plan Act to compile the suggestions and complaints is getting over by June 6.