KOCHI: Muvattupuzha has for long yearned to carve its own space on the map of the state’s districts. With the chief minister now indicating that the government will soon constitute a delimitation commission to consider the creation of new districts, the old demand has acquired a fresh relevance. But beyond the politics of district formation, Muvattupuzha’s case rests on an unusual geographical and economic identity.
Sitting at the meeting point of three rivers, the town established itself as a historical trading centre. It developed as a market for agricultural produce of the eastern high ranges while also serving as a link between the urban belt of Ernakulam and the hilly regions of Idukki. Rubber and pineapple are among the major products traded in the region.
This location has given Muvattupuzha a role that extends well beyond its municipal boundaries. It is close enough to Kochi to function as an emerging satellite town but far enough east to retain strong links with the agricultural economy of the high ranges. That positioning, supporters of district status argue, could become its biggest advantage.
“Muvattupuzha can become a point connecting Ernakulam and Idukki. It has the potential to develop into a business corridor and an urban headquarters, much like the role of Palakkad as a connecting point between Coimbatore and Bengaluru,” said former chief secretary V P Joy.
The town also has the advantage of MC Road and good connectivity to the airport. With Ernakulam’s urban expansion leaving little room for further development, Muvattupuzha is being viewed as an eastern extension of the district’s economic space, Joy said.
Yet its location has also left it in something of an administrative middle ground. It does not enjoy the scale of urban development centred on Kochi, nor does it receive the focused attention associated with a predominantly hill district such as Idukki.
“A new district could be formed by including areas such as Muvattupuzha, Kothamangalam, Piravom and Pampakuda, along with parts of Thodupuzha. This would help reduce the administrative burden on existing districts and make government services more accessible to the people,” said local historian K A Moosa.
The idea is not new. During the tenure of former chief minister K Karunakaran, an announcement was made which destined Muvattupuzha for districthood, Moosa said. But the proposal never materialised. The Babu Paul Commission later recommended Muvattupuzha as a suitable choice if a new district were created.
It has been an important centre of trade and commerce since ancient times, he noted. However, even after the formation of Wayanad and Kasaragod districts, Muvattupuzha’s demand was not considered.
