The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Corporation shelves three development projects

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Corporation shelves three development projects

T. Nandakumar

Government accused of not releasing funds

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation has been forced to shelve three priority projects owing to the Government's failure to release funds under the Capital Region Development Programme. The projects are part of a major facelift package for the city that includes the beautification of the Shanghumughom beach, Putharikkandam Maidan and Manaveeyam Veedhi and the modernisation of the Thycaud crematorium.

In 2003, the corporation had drawn up plans to execute the Rs.10-crore package with financial assistance from the Capital Region Development Programme and the Theerapadham Urban Development Project. But with Government funds slowing down to a trickle, the civic body decided to take up the crematorium project on its own.

Aid held up

Mayor J. Chandra said the fate of the three pending projects depended on the release of Government funds. LDF leaders in the Corporation Council, however, accused the Government of throttling the Capital Region Development Programme. "Though there has been no official communication on denial of funds, there are indications that the Government is switching off support," an LDF councillor said.

"The Cabinet sub-committee for the development of the capital region has not met for several months. The recommendations of the empowered committee of officials are gathering dust," said V.S. Padmakumar, chairman of the corporation's Works standing committee. He alleged that the Government was trying to create more hurdles by delaying technical sanction for the pending projects.

Adviser to the Government on Urban Renewal Projects Babu Jacob said efforts were on to work out the financial assistance for each project separately. The Manaveeyam Veedhi project involves converting the road from the Keltron Square to the Althara Junction into a boulevard with paving tiles, covered footpath and a modern lighting system. The project cost has been estimated at Rs.85 lakhs.

The beautification of the Putharikkandam Maidan is expected to cost Rs.3.25 crores. The Quit India gate at the entrance will be replaced with a new structure designed on the lines of the East Fort gate and trees will be planted on the premises.

In a bid to get the Rs.4.4-crore Shanghumughom project off the ground, the project designers have broken up the proposal into several components. The Tourism Department is learnt to be interested in developing a recreational area fronting the beach. The area adjacent to the Kalmandapam and the Star Fish restaurant will be developed in the first phase, while the part of the beach near the football ground and the Arat palace will be taken up for landscaping in the second phase. Tourism Minister K.C. Venugopal is reported to have given the go-ahead for the proposal.

The corporation is planning to approach the Central Government for financial assistance to renovate the South Palace fronting the beach. Civic officials, however, said the Government was yet to give technical sanction for the restoration work. "We are also trying to rope in the Archaeology Department," an official said.

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