THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The City Corporation on Thursday approved a package of schemes worth Rs.919.96 crore for assistance from the Union Government under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

The priority list of detailed project reports was approved amid allegations by the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) that the schemes were prepared without taking the councillors into confidence. The ruling Left Democratic Front hit back with the charge that the Opposition was blindly resisting the efforts to improve the city infrastructure and basic services for the poor.

The list

The list of projects include refurbishment of the sewerage network (Rs.435 crore), water supply (Rs.89.5 crore), slum improvement (16.69 crore), solid waste management (Rs.26 crore), renovation of water bodies and canals (Rs.129 crore), construction and repair of bridges (Rs.8.24 crore), roads (Rs.124.6 crore), market development (Rs.8.93 crore), improvement of tourism infrastructure (Rs.62.6 crore) and renovation of heritage buildings (Rs.19.35crore).

The slums to be taken up for improvement under the scheme include the Rajiv Nagar colony, Two-cent colony, Kadakampally and Bund colony, Kannamoola.

The Karimadham tank-Thekkekara canal, Parvathy Puthanar canal-Aakulam lake and the stretch of the Amayizhanjan canal from Kannamoola to Aakulam are slated to be restored under the project.

The Vallakadavu bridge and the Ponnara bridge are to be reconstructed using the JNNURM funds.

Markets

The development of the Pangode market is expected to cost Rs.6 crore while Rs.2.93 crore will be spent on modernising other markets identified under the first phase of the project.

Mayor C.Jayan Babu said the projects had been prepared by various government departments for implementation in the financial year 2006-07. He said the proposals would be submitted to the Government for release of assistance from the JNNURM.

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