Kerala - Alappuzha   

Mani Shankar Aiyar to announce Rs.20-crore project for Mararikulam

Staff Reporter

Aimed at developing traditional industries

ALAPPUZHA: The Aryad and Kanjikkuzhy block panchayats in Mararikulam Assembly constituency in the district will implement a Rs.20-crore project for the comprehensive development of villages of the constituency that lies on the banks Vembanad lake, which borders the constituency on eastern side.

Union Minister for Panchayati Raj Mani Sankar Aiyar would formally announce the sanctioning of the project at a meeting at the Mannancherry Government High School premises at a.m. on July 20. Alappuzha district panchayat president R. Nazar and president of Aryad block panchayat P.P. Sangeetha and Kanjikkuzhy block panchayat president Jalaja Chandran, who announced this at a press conference here said the project was prepared with the assistance of State Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Issac.

Mr. Issac would deliver the key-note address at the function and Mr. Nazar himself would preside over. Alappuzha MP K.S. Manoj would deliver the

development message.

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) had sanctioned Rs.20 crore for the project, Mr. Nazar said. He said the project is aimed at the development of traditional industries along the coast of Vembanad lake that borders the Aryad and Kanjikkuzhy block panchayats. As a part of the project, development of schools in the area would be undertaken and steps would be taken to solve the shortage of drinking water in the area, Mr. Nazar said.

The district panchayat president said the development project would be implemented giving due emphasis for preserving the eco-system. Eco-tourism projects would be promoted in the area, he added. He said schemes for the preservation of fish and mussels caught by fishermen from Vembanad lake would be implemented as a part of the project.

As a part of the project, the canals and other water bodies in the area would be cleaned, said Mr. Nazar. The possibility of growing fish in the canals would be examined. He added that the roads in the panchayats would also be renovated. Mr. Nazar said funds would be given from the project for the cultivation of paddy in fields in the panchayats, which were lying barren at present. He said the preservation of Thanneermukkom barrage would be ensured and amount had been earmarked in the revised State Budget for the purpose.

Mr. Nazar said another project for the development of eco-tourism at Pathiranamanal Island in Vembanad lake was in the offing. The Centre for Earth Studies had been entrusted to prepare a project said Mr. Nazar.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Mani Shankar Aiyar to announce Rs.20-crore project for Mararikulam

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu