The Hindu : Kerala News : Central aid for Alappuzha

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Sunday, Mar 06, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Central aid for Alappuzha

By Our Staff Reporter

ALAPPUZHA, MARCH 5. The Union Government has agreed to allot Rs.8 crores for the development of canals in Alappuzha town, the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, has said.

Inaugurating the second phase of cleaning and beautification works of the canals at a function here today, Mr. Chandy said the third phase would be augmented as a comprehensive project for the development of the tourism potential of the town. This third and final phase would be implemented with the Rs.8 crores to be allotted by the Centre, he said.

Mr. Chandy said the Government would form a committee with the Tourism Minister as chairman, the Alappuzha District Collector as convener and Ministers and officials of various departments as members for the upkeep of the canals in the town.

The Tourism Minister, K.C. Venugopal, who presided over the function, said Alappuzha would be developed as the best tourism town in the State in two years.

He said the cleaning and maintenance of the canals were facing several impediments as the approval of different departments was needed for it. To overcome the difficulties, the canals and their banks should be brought under a single authority, he suggested.

The function began with a country-boat pageantry through the canals. Earlier, the Chief Minister commissioned a lock system which would regulate the entry of seawater into the canals.

Those who participated in the inaugural function included the Alappuzha MP, K.S. Manoj, the municipal chairperson, Lalithamma Somanathan, and leaders of various political parties.

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