PERUMBAVOOR: Perumbavoor is one of unique spots in the state which is home to people from all around the country, mainly from the north-east.
On Sundays, over 50,000 migrant workers crowd on the streets of Perumbavoor for their weekly shopping. India in all its unity and diversity can be seen on that day, say residents.
The municipality, which was born on the New Year Day of 1953, has been long known as the land of timber industry and Travancore Rayons. But, times have changed and it is now trying hard to address modern day issues, mainly traffic woes and waste menace.
As the present term of the Municipal Council, led by the Congress, comes to an end on November 1 next year, many plans are in the pipeline to give a facelift to the emerging town.
“The major problem faced by the residents is traffic congestion. Though a 2.7-km bypass was mooted from Palakkettu Thazham to Maruth Kavala on AM Road almost 12 years ago, the project is yet to be realised. The project cost was only `3 crore according to the initial estimate, but now it would require over `50 crore. Without constructing the bypass the development of Perumbavoor is likely to hit the wall,” said K M Abdul Salam, chairman, Perumbavoor Municipality. Acquisition of 32 acre of land is required for the construction of bypass. “Since the majority of area comprises paddy fields, land acquisition will not be much of a problem. The initial procedures for land acquisition have started and we hope to start the construction work before the tenure of the present council ends. Effective utilisation of 73 acres of land of Travancore Rayons, that was once the pride of Perumbavoor, is another problem which has to be addressed urgently. Since a large number of migrant workers reside in Perumbavoor, health and safety issues are another topic of importance,” he said.
He added that the town has a great potential in terms of tourism which remains under-utilised till date. “Iringole Kavu and Naganchery Mana could be easily developed into a major tourist destination,” he said.
To tackle the waste menace, the Municipality has set up 150 biogas plants and 1,000 pipe compost units were distributed. The authorities claimed that the amount of waste in town has come down to four tonnes from 12 tonnes per day. According to municipal officials disposal of waste at the origin is being followed stringently now.
Admitting that traffic congestion and mounting waste menace were major problems of the town, G Sunilkumar, Leader of Opposition, Perumbavoor Municipality, said that the town has now become one of the most congested cities in Ernakulam.
“The recently implemented one-way traffic system in the town has become an utter failure. Though the Council claims that bio-compost and pipe compost facilities were given to the people, only 10 per cent of the total houses have received them,” he said.C K Abdulla, president, Perumbavoor Merchants Association said a medical college and a traffic station were the need of the hour.“If a medical college comes up at Perumbavoor it will be of great help for the people in the high range areas. The government should give due importance to the efficient usage of the 73 acres of Travancore Rayons,” he said.