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Poverty eradication, development projects to top agenda

By N.J. Nair

ATTINGAL, MARCH 5. The budget of Attingal Municipality for 2005-2006 is likely to address major issues including poverty eradication, rehabilitation of destitute people, and clearing hurdles in construction of the private bus stand at Mamom.

The municipal chairperson, Vasumathi G. Nair, told The Hindu today that maintenance of roads would be completed before March 31. The Municipal Council is working on the proposal to set up a village with facilities including drinking water and power for destitute people. The `ashraya' scheme will be implemented for them. It has also been decided to construct latrines for families below the poverty line. The beneficiaries of the scheme would be identified with the help of neighbourhood groups, she said.

A project to construct a bus stand and a seven-storey commercial complex at an estimated cost of Rs. 8 crores was prepared by Kinfra in 1998. It was envisaged to meet a component of the cost from investors. But the project did not materialise since Kinfra could not identify investors so far. The Council had got Rs. 5 lakhs from the MLA's fund and now attempts were being made to get more funds to start construction of the bus stand and provide basic facilities there, she said. The second phase of development of the Friends Centre in the municipality is also on the anvil. The centre has now provided for registration of births and deaths and issue of certificates.

With the help of Information Kerala Mission, the Municipal Council was trying to provide counters to remit tax and university fees. The old age home constructed by the municipality would start functioning by April, Ms. Vasumathi Nair said.

Market development

Construction of a commercial complex at Alamcode, renovation of the slaughter house, and development of the Attingal market are some of the major projects that the Council is planning to implement in the coming financial year. The Municipality has set a record in tax collection. It has touched almost 98 per cent. This has to be sustained to improve the financial position of the municipality.

The Municipality has used the integrated development fund for small and medium towns. After assuming office, the Council gave top priority for waste disposal, street-lighting, development of roads, drinking water supply, and construction of buildings for ayurveda hospital and running the homoeo hospital. All these schemes would be continued in the coming year too.

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