Kerala - Kozhikode   

Candidates argue over Beypore development

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: Elamaram Kareem, Left Democratic Front candidate in the Beypore Assembly constituency, says that V.K.C. Mammad Koya, MLA and front leader, had undertaken many development activities in the constituency.

However, Ummer Pandikasala, United Democratic Front candidate, counters it, saying that giving credit to the MLA for the development works taken up by the Government was unfair.

K.P. Sreshan, Bharatiya Janata Party candidate, says that the fact that Beypore has immense scope of development itself points to the neglect to the constituency by the Left front candidates who had won the seat in all but one election.

The three made a meet-the-candidates programme of the Calicut Press Club on Wednesday alive, making claims and counterclaims and getting into arguments.

Mr. Kareem said the development of the Feroke-Kadalundi road and the Kallampara bridge and pressuring the Centre to sanction Rs. 4.25 crores for Beypore fishing harbour went to the credit of Mr. Koya.

Mr. Pandikasala countered it by saying that the road development was undertaken on the initiative of Minister for Public Works M.K. Muneer.

Mr. Kareem came down heavily on the ruling front, charging it with turning Beypore, which had the Cheruvannur-Feroke industrial belt, into a poorly developed area. The State Government's policies were such that development did not cross Ernakulam, and Malabar was neglected, he alleged.

The Government had not pursued mega drinking water projects, such as the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) drinking water project and Cheekode drinking water project, which could have provided a permanent solution to drinking water problems in the constituency, Mr. Kareem said.

The development of Beypore port was also neglected, and a project proposed at the Global Investors' Meet (GIM) for its development was not pursued. He said potential of Kadalundi as a bird sanctuary was not explored. Problems of Njeliyanparambu and development of Olavanna Botanical Garden were not taken up. Mr. Pandikasala said the Government had undertaken many development activities at the harbour.

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