The Hindu : Polluted rivers to be cleaned up

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram

Polluted rivers to be cleaned up

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM March 26. A package of programmes aimed at improving the health profile of the city populace is the highlight of the Corporation's budget for the year 2003-04, which was presented in the council today.

A project to clean up the polluted Karamana and Killi rivers and promotion of medicinal plant cultivation on a large-scale are some of the major schemes outlined in the budget.

An outlay of Rs. 20 lakhs has been provided for free eye-care camps, including diagnosis and free distribution of spectacles and surgery. A sum of Rs. 25 lakhs has been allocated for an integrated health programme for treatment of various diseases, including diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems.

A cancer control programme will be implemented with free treatment for poor patients. The budget has earmarked Rs. 25 lakhs for prevention of epidemics and vector control. An amount of Rs.10 lakhs has been set apart for an Ayurveda treatment programme for the aged and Rs.12 lakhs for rehabilitation of cured mental patients. The budget proposes an outlay of Rs.30 lakhs for development of hospitals, including construction of buildings and improving facilities.

An integrated rabies control programme will be taken up at a cost of Rs. 5 lakhs. This includes immunisation and sterilisation of dogs and free supply of vaccines. The Clean City project has been allocated Rs.1.25 crores. Door-to-door collection of garbage will be extended to all wards. The scheme includes purchase of two-wheelers for health inspectors. The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Health committee chairman, health officers and inspectors will be provided with wireless sets.

A sum of Rs. 25 lakhs has been earmarked to clean up and renovate the Karamana and Killi rivers. A string of small-scale drinking water supply projects will be taken up at a cost of Rs.50 lakhs.

An amount of Rs.15 lakhs has been allotted for setting up a gas `choola' at the Thycaud crematorium. A `No Plastic' campaign will be launched in the city with the thrust on production of substitute products using paper, cloth and jute. An old age home for the destitute will be set up at a cost of Rs.10 lakhs.

The budget proposes a Rs.10-lakh scheme titled Herbal City for promoting cultivation of medicinal herbs. It envisages tapping the huge raw material market for the production of herbal drugs. In the first phase, the cultivation will be taken up in the green belt around the garbage processing plant at Vilappilsala and other sites.

In the education sector, the budget has earmarked Rs.70 lakhs for improving facilities on school campuses and skill upgradation courses for teachers. A Rs.5- lakh project will be launched to address learning disability among children from LP to high school level. The budget also proposes a Rs. 25-lakh computer education scheme at the LP level.

In the Town Planning sector, the budget proposes a Rs. 2-crore scheme for a land bank to facilitate road widening and development of junctions, bus bays and subways. A Rs.50-lakh project will be taken up for development of parking areas at six locations. An amount of Rs.10 lakhs will be spent on converting the Sanghumukhom Palace into a guest house. The Sanghumukhom beach development scheme has been allotted Rs. 20 lakhs.

An outlay of Rs.10 crores has been provided for development of community halls and shopping and office complexes. An auditorium-cum-office complex will be constructed at Poonkulam. The Town Planning department will be provided with vehicles and wireless sets. Street lighting has been allocated Rs. 25 lakhs. Renovation of public parks has been allotted Rs.10 lakhs.

Talking to reporters, the Mayor, J. Chandra, said the 25 per cent increased outlay for the new wards annexed from suburban panchayats would be continued. She said the Government owed Rs.4.5 crores to the Corporation as tax arrears for public buildings.

The Mayor said the DPC decision to review the computerisation of the Corporation office would not affect the Rs.1-crore project. She said the Corporation was awaiting a favourable response from the Planning Board.

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