KOCHI: Division No. 17 -
Perumpadappu
Councillor -
Lailamma George (LDF)
No. of voters - 7,753
Perumpadappu, now represented by councillor Lailamma George, is in the general category in the coming elections. This area is reclaimed marsh land which has been levelled and occupied.
Lailamma George claims that about 65 different works have been undertaken in the division. “Drains have been cleaned and covered with slabs. New drains have been made wherever needed and pocket roads have been maintained and concreted. Street lights have been installed in the entire area. All these works have been carried out utilising the division fund.”
She says that slum development work was carried out at the Shankuthara Colony, spending ` 29 lakh from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) fund. Bigger roads were tarred, new drains were made and the existing ones were developed and maintained. Drains were covered with slabs and footpaths made above them. “206 houses were allotted under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojna (VAMBAY) and the Basic Service to the Urban Poor (BSUP) projects,” she adds.
` 10 lakh from the People’s Plan fund was used to develop the coastal road and its width was increased. Chembukandam road was developed using the general fund. SN road levelling and tarring was done using the People’s Plan fund. The fund was also used for the tarring and repair work of several roads in the division. Funds from the People’s Plan fund and additional funds were used to extend the drains in several areas to avoid waterlogging. Some new ventures have been started to provide jobs using this fund. Funds from the People’s Plan fund was also used to build a new Anganwadi in the division.
“Road, drainage development and maintenance work was given prominence. A lot of work has been done in this regard. Pipes were changed in several areas to avoid water contamination,” Lailamma says. “Some projects including the Kothakulangara open air theatre for which ` 20 lakh has been allotted under the Corporation general fund, a homoeo dispensary for which ` 5 lakh has been allotted, and the women’s hostel allotted under the People’s Plan fund and the Kuppakkatt road repair work are in the pipeline.”
Residents of Perumpadappu say that water contamination and water shortage is a problem here. There is shortage of potable water in the Kumbalangi area too. Waterlogging is also a problem in some areas.
Division No. 16 -
Edakochi South
Councillor -
Melly Joy (LDF)
No. of voters - 4948
Edakochi South, falls under the general category in the coming polls. The UDF and the LDF claim chances of victory in this ward. A division with a sizeable number of economically backward people, the problem that needs to be addressed urgently in this area is potable water shortage. The councillor of Edakochi South, Melly Joy, says that the division fund was used for all the designated purposes including the construction and maintenance of drains, installing new streetlights and High-Max lights. She adds that 500 houses were sanctioned under the Basic Service to the Urban Poor (BSUP) fund. “Slum development work was carried out with ` 24 lakh from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) fund. New roads were made, old ones repaired, new pipes and streetlights were installed and an Anganwadi was built. Drains were covered and footpaths were made above them.”
The councillor says that the People’s Plan fund was used mainly for taking measures to control waterlogging and for the improvement of roads. “Much was done to carry out developmental activities in the SC Colony area. A road was widened and tarred to ensure smooth transportation. A 40-feet road from Edakochi to Fort Kochi was also built.”
` 10 lakh has been allotted for the development of Edakochi bus stand. ` 50 lakh has been allotted under the Valmiki Ambedkar Awas Yojna (VAMBAY) to shift the Palluruthy settlement here.
Residents at Edakochi south are worried about the shortage of potable water. They say that this problem affects V A T colony the most. Waterlogging is another issue in the area.
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