KOCHI: The state government will extend its support to convert Chottanikkara, one of the major pilgrim centres of the district, into a Temple panchayat. Minister for Panchayats M K Muneer announced the decision the other day. According to Muneer, the government had received nearly `400 crore (in terms of conversion rate of dollar) this year as part of the World Bank funding.
“The fund will be allotted to those panchayats which submit development projects before the Ministry concerned. The priority will be given on first come, first serve basis. However, since Chottanikkara bears a huge significance in the pilgrim tourism map of the state, the panchayat will be given the first installment once they submit the project report,” Muneer said.
He said that Chottanikkara, which is the land of temples and one of the major pilgrim destinations is totally eligible for the name ‘Temple panchayat’. The Minister also instructed the District Collector to submit a detailed report in this regard.
Earlier, the Minister also inaugurated the newly built crematorium- Santhitheeram- constructed at Eruveli Kayappuram Hills. The modern crematorium has two gas chambers which will enable cremation of two bodies simultaneously. The smoke that is emitted during the cremation will be treated through the water tank attached to the chimney and will be released through the pipe having a length of 30 meters. This will help in reducing the intensity of the smell and also bring down the pollution.
The crematorium has been a long pending demand of the residents of Chottanikkara as they were mainly depending upon the facilities at Irumpanam or Tripunithura till now.
The rates for cremating bodies at the new crematorium have been fixed at `2,500 for residents of Chottanikkara while non-residents will have to pay `3,500. The crematorium was constructed by utilising `80 lakh from the fund provide by the state government while `37 lakh was pumped in by the panchayat from its own fund. As part of the green initiative, a garden with various trees has also been planted in the area.
The foundation stone for the crematorium was laid in January 2014 . The work came to a halt after a stay issued by the Court. However, it was resumed in 2014 December and was completed within six months. Chottanikkara is also the first panchayat to receive full funding from the state government for the construction of a crematorium.