ARUVIKKARA: As the Aruvikkara bypoll campaigning moves to a photo finish, City Express takes a look at grassroot-level issues, people’s concerns and developmental activities in the eight panchayats - Tholicode, Vithura, Aryanad, Uzhamalakkal, Vellanad, Aruvikkara, Poovachal and Kuttichal - of Aruvikkara constituency. The LDF and UDF hold four panchayats each.
A detailed panchayat-wise analysis of the constituency reveals that shortage of drinking water projects, lack of proper roads and pathetic state of tribal settlements are the major issues discussed in the campaigning.
Kuttichal Vahida V H (Congress)(Former panchayat president):
"G Karthikeyan implemented a comprehensive Rs 10-crore scheme for the tribal sector, including electrification, housing and LPG connections. Ration rice was provided for tribal hamlets. Three health squads with one medico each visit the tribal hamlets at Kottoor on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
‘’Construction of nine roads in the panchayat was referred to the PWD. A Rs 33-crore drinking water scheme for Aryanad, Kuttichal and Poovachal panchayats is in the pipeline. It is meant to take water from Aniyilakadavu to Karupottichira and from there to Valiyavila colony.
‘’An amount of Rs 1.5 crore was given to the Homoeo Hospital, in addition to Rs 50 lakh for the Ayurveda Hospital. Financial aid to the tune of Rs 35,000 to one lakh was given to forest dwellers. Thonampara-Valpara road constructed. Also, the Kattakada - Kottoor road was completed. Only the Parandode road is in bad shape. The Kallikkad-Nedungadu road was completed.’’
Geethakumari (CPM)(President):
‘’The Rs 33-crore drinking water project has been delayed for long following unnecessary issues. Now it’s in the bidding stage after the panchayat acquired sufficient land for the same. Land for constructing the tank has also been identified.
‘’Tribal regions were completely neglected. A Rs 10-crore project has just begun. Roads need to be constructed to the region, where there are 27 tribal settlements at Kottoor like Amala, Pothode, Podium, Chonampara and Mokothivayal. Other than promises and declarations, nothing was given to the Homoeo Hospital. The panchayat has been trying to meet the expenses using its own funds.’’
Poovachal Suni Soman (Congress) (President):
‘’G Karthikeyan brought in major developmental initiatives in the panchayat, including an international market for which all official procedures have been completed. Tender procedures for the Rs 33-crore drinking water scheme for the three panchayats are over.
‘’Similarly, tenders were floated for the Nadukani tourism centre. The Rs 10.5-crore Kattakkada civil station project is also in the tendering stage. An amount of Rs 1.5 crore has been sanctioned for the community hall project which is currently with the LSG Department.’’
C Sreedharan
‘’The panchayat shopping complex was envisaged long back, but nothing has been done so far. Kattakkada international market is only on paper. The government hasn’t given any support for the project. The Rs 33-crore drinking water project that they have been making tall claims about has reached nowhere. Other than claims, nothing happened. ‘’Regarding the Simon Road from Uriyakode to Chakkippara, they claim that Rs 1.94 crore was sanctioned. But no work was carried out. Other than routine activities, there are no major projects using the panchayat fund. Internal fights are also common within the ruling front which further hampers developmental initiatives.’’
Uzhamalakkal Aruviyode Surendran (Congress) (Former vice president):
‘’MLA fund was sanctioned for many projects like fixing high-mast lights, but they were not implemented. The Rs 120 crore sanctioned for the drinking water project was not utilised. It was a major project which included a treatment plant. But the panchayat failed to acquire land for the same. No initiatives were taken on their part.
Many byroads in the panchayats were constructed using MLA fund. Roads in eight wards, including Chittiveeduvathil Road for Rs 8 lakh, and another road project in Pongode ward were constructed, but the panchayat could not construct small roads under them. Siddha hospital was sanctioned for the panchayat, but it’s yet to be inaugurated.’’
B B Sujatha (CPM)
(President): ‘’Uzhamalakkal is one of the most neglected panchayats in the constituency. Almost all roads are in a pathetic state. Drinking water is another major issue. Pipelines have not reached many wards.
‘’Three major roads were sanctioned by including them in the special package during the LDF rule. The panchayat took all initiatives for the Mangattupara drinking water project, including identifying the land. But there was no positive response from the MLA.’’
Aruvikkara Advocate A A Hakeem
(Congress) (President):‘’During the past four years, we could implement major developmental activities here. G Karthikeyan took the initiative to include six PWD roads in the budget and an amount of Rs 17 crore was sanctioned for renovation work here. Also, the Rs 7-crore ‘bali mandapam’ at Aruvikkara stands witness to the developmental initiatives. An open air auditorium and parking area were set up with a project cost of Rs 46 lakh. Projects worth Rs 1.5 crore were implemented in the minor irrigation sector. Construction of some of the roads is currently on.’’
P Raghavan (CPM)
(Opposition leader): ‘’None of the roads have been completed. Drinking water issue still prevails in many parts of the panchayat like Maruthamkode. People here have decided to not to vote in this election owing to this drinking water issue. It’s true that some developmental activities were carried out like ‘Bali Mandapam’ and auditorium, but much more needs to be done.’’
Aryanad
Shylaja O (CPM) (Vice-president)
‘’Most of the roads are in a pathetic state. The panchayat has earmarked Rs 33 lakh for building a hanging bridge. Also, an amount of Rs 10 lakh has been kept aside for setting up an Ayurveda hospital building at Parandode. As we didn’t get funds from the state government, the panchayat cleared the amount from the World Bank funding of Rs 48 lakh.
‘’Work on the development of the Palekkonam SC colony, with a project cost of Rs one crore, is currently underway. The project was sanctioned during the LDF government rule under V S Achuthanandan, while the implementation began recently.’’
K P Sundaram (Congress)
(Opposition leader):
‘’A major drinking water scheme could have been implemented here had the panchayat bought 10 cents of land for the same. The Rs 14-crore NABARD drinking water project would have come here. The panchayat should purchase land for the same. But, so far, no action has been taken. If implemented, the scheme would have benefited Marangadu ward in Uzhamalakkal, Kottanchira, Parandode, Valiya Kalung, Theviyarukkunu and Keezhpaloor Meenamkal wards in Aryanad, Peppara ward in Vithura and the tribal settlement at Melthottam ward in Tholicode.
’When they allege that G Karthikeyan didn’t do anything here, they are attempting to cover up their own mistakes. No creative schemes were implemented in the panchayat, which has been ruled by the LDF for more than 20 years. While the District Panchayat under Congress rule has been coming up with projects on a daily basis.’’
Tholicode
S S Premkumar (CPM) (President)
‘’Residents of as many as 13 tribal settlements located at Chettiyampara, Nedumamgad, Vinobhanikethan, Pulichamala, Cheruppani, Methottam and Karakkam Road have to walk 18-20 km to get medical treatment. It’s because the mini PHC, which was upgraded into a hospital with IP facility, became defunct during the UDF government’s time. Now, local people have to go to the Nedumangad district hospital.
’Also, the present government closed down various facilities for the tribals, including a tribal hostel, mini theatre and ITI. The Rs 34-crore Vithura-Tholicode drinking water project also cuts a sorry figure. It was finally the panchayat that acquired the required land for the project.’’
Ansar Thottamukku (Congress)(Opposition leader)
‘’In fact, most projects implemented by G Karthikeyan were in the ST sector. An amount of Rs 110 lakh was given for the Malayadi PHC in the ST sector. Contrary to the president’s claim, Vithura-Tholicode drinking water project was implemented with public support.
‘’Other projects implemented include Malayadi-Cheruppani road in ST sector (Rs 156 lakh given) and construction completed. Chettiyampara- Methottam road, for which Rs 25 lakh was given. Malayadi-Cheruppani-Vettayil road, for which Rs 156 lakh given has already been inaugurated. Construction of the Ponpara Cheruppani road for which Rs 35 lakh was sanctioned was completed. Administrative sanction was given for Ponpara-Chippikunnu road. An amount of Rs 5 lakh was given for the Pathirakunnu-LIC Kunnu road .
’Rs 400 lakh was given for electrification of tribal hamlets here. Rs 2.5 lakh was sanctioned to 100 tribal families under the Comprehensive Housing Scheme. A bus was given to Panakkode school. Rs 23 lakh sanctioned for Panakkode water scheme.’’
Vithura
Vipin LV (Congress) (President)
‘’During the LDF rule, even after a year, the required land for the Vithura-Tholicode drinking water project was not acquired. When this panchayat committee came into existence, we acquired 1.30 cents of land for the project, while Tholicode failed to do so. There are many other major developmental initiatives carried out here like the Vithura-Meppara Road, tourism camp centre at Kallar and the setting up of a new Fire and Rescue Services Unit.
‘’Two other projects - Ponnaramchund and Sooryakanthi bridges - have already been sanctioned. These are evidences before the people and we think it’ll be reflected in the bypoll.’’
K Vijayakumar (CPM) (Opposition leader)
‘’The government hospital in the panchayat is in a pathetic state. Though land for the Homoeo Hospital was acquired five years ago, no action was taken to build the same. Similarly, the Ayurveda hospital at Channampra has been functioning from a dilapidated building.
’Almost 50 per cent of people who have taken water connections are still waiting for drinking water. More than 60 per cent of funds in the production sector has not been used till now. Projects in vegetable farming are defunct. The Vithura Higher Secondary and High School which is under the district panchayat has been in the eye of a storm. There’s nothing more to be said about the pathetic state of PWD roads in Maruthamoodu- Chettachal areas.’’
Vellanad
Vellanad Sasi (Congress)
(Vice-president): ‘’G Karthikeyan, during his four-year tenure, sanctioned projects worth Rs 116 crore for Vellanad. Of these, projects worth around 8 crore were completed, while schemes to the tune of Rs 30 crore are in the pipeline. This will be converted into votes for UDF’s K S Sabarinathan.
Gopalakrishnan Nair (CPM)
(Opposition leader): ‘’Drinking water projects haven’t reached areas like Veliyanoor, Changa and Valiyara. Housing schemes by the panchayat have been lagging for sometime. Also, street lights have not been fixed at many places. Construction for the Veliyanoor-Eriyaoor bridge began during the tenure of the Mangode Radhakrishnan MLA and lagged for some time.’’