THRISSUR: An initiative is on to formulate and implement a new development model in the Kodakara Assembly segment in the district.

People's representatives at various levels, including grama, block and district panchayats, MPs, leaders of political parties, voluntary organisations and officials are actively collaborating in the initiative, called `Susthira,' said Kodakara MLA C. Ravindranath at a press conference here on Saturday.

The effort is to evolve a master plan for the overall development of the area in the next 10 years and implement development activities to the tune of Rs.200 crore in the next five years based on the master plan.

The targets set for the programme include solving the drinking water shortage in the tribal colonies in the area completely within two years and in the constituency within seven years. The initiative envisages transformation of Kodakara into a fully irrigated constituency in 10 years and into a fully electrified area in five years. Paddy production in the constituency is to be increased by 10 per cent in five years, while fish production is to be tripled and milk production hiked by 10 per cent during the period.

Other objectives include generating more employment opportunities, developing infrastructural facilities such as roads, increasing the number of cattle, implementing the total housing plan and undertaking projects for the growth of talents in the arts and sports sectors.

Resource mobilisation

He said an assessment of various projects being implemented in the constituency indicates that there is an annual fund flow of Rs.38 crore to the area under different heads such as Plan funds of grama, block and district panchayats, own fund, MLA and MP funds and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) funds. If the funds are clubbed together, nearly Rs.190 crore would be available for the development of the area in a period of five years.

The amount could be raised to Rs.200 crore by tapping other sources such as cooperative and scheduled banks.

`Susthira' aimed at pooling the funds from all these sources to implement the proposed master plan. The idea was to achieve an integration of the various schemes being implemented in the constituency under different heads to avoid duplication, overlapping and contradictions as well to fill the gaps, he said.

The drafts of the master plan have been prepared for sectors such as health, education, electricity, agriculture, and animal husbandry, while efforts are on to formulate them for other sectors.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the programme at Kodakara on Monday, he said.

Kodakara block panchayat president P. Thankam, vice-president C.K. Divakaran and district panchayat member T.A. Ramakrishnan were present.

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