To face the severe power crisis faced by the state, the Tripunithura Municipality, in its annual budget, has given importance to solar-energy projects.
The budget promises installation of solar panels at Tripunithura Government Taluk Hospital, municipal building and its zonal offices. The project will be implemented with the help of Agency for Non-conventional Energy and Rural Technology.
For the project, Rs 10 lakh has been earmarked in the budget. The budget also envisages expansion of the project to houses under its limits. Financial grant will be given to people who implement solar-energy projects in their homes.
Generally, the 2013-14 budget of the municipality focused on the welfare of people and offers implementation of housing and employment schemes. The budget presented by municipal vice-chairperson Thilothama Suresh has a surplus of Rs 4.2 crore with Rs 109.25 crore revenue and Rs 105.04 expenditure.
Housing Schemes
The Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana Scheme will be implemented and the selected
77 clusters in the area will benefit from it. The Basic Services to the Urban Poor (BSUP) and EMS Housing Schemes will also be implemented in the fiscal.
Moreover, the budget earmarks Rs 3.65 to implement the Rajiv Awas Yojana Housing Scheme to the Below Poverty Line category. Those living on the puramboke land at Parambithazhathu will be rehabilitated and Rs 74 lakh has been earmarked in this regard. According to the budget, there will not be any landless people in the municipality after the implementation of the housing schemes.
Employment
As many as 1,225 people will be given jobs under Swarna Jayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana and Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme. For this, a total of Rs 15 lakh has been earmarked.
Spillover projects
The budget also allocated funds for the projects announced in the previous years. The Tripunithura Government Taluk Hospital has been granted Rs 50 lakh to complete infrastructure-related works. For the second phase of Thaneerchal Park Project and the proposed children’s park on the 2.3-acres of Old RLV College compound, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 3.2 crore respectively, have been allotted.
The budget also envisages a chairman’s development fund. The fund will be used to help patients who are in need of dialysis. An amount of `3,000 has been earmarked in this regard.
Water crisis
To allay potable water crisis, the community water supply system will be developed. As per the system, areas will be divided as separate communities and water will be supplied from nearby public water sources.
To complete the construction of girls high school and boys high school, an amount of Rs 50 lakh has been earmarked. The streets will get 100 additional LED lights and Rs 15 lakh has been set aside in this regard.