Thiruvananthapuram: The Department of Local Self-Government has identified the Tirurangadi block in Malappuram district for Central assistance under the Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) project, which seeks to improve the quality of life in villages and remove urban congestion.

A team from the Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) will visit Tirurangadi soon to prepare a feasibility study. The team will interact with officials of the Town and Country Planning department.

A meeting convened by Local Self-Government Minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty here last week decided to prepare a detailed project report in consultation with experts. The Chief Town Planner has been instructed to report on the action taken by various departments.

Local bodies in the block will be directed to ensure that their projects for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan are in tune with the proposals of the draft report on PURA.

Local Self-Government Principal Secretary S.M. Vijayanand recently made a presentation before President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the details of the Tirurangadi scheme. Mr. Vijayanand told the meeting that the President had asked HUDCO to extend all possible support to the project.

K. Kutty Ahmed Kutty, MLA, spoke about the exploratory studies conducted. He also highlighted the possibility of extending PURA to all blocks in the State.

The PURA project will be an extension of the model document prepared for the integrated development of Tirurangadi block.

PURA is promoted by the Central Government with the aim of creating rural wealth and prosperity. The model envisages a habitat designed to improve the quality of life in rural areas and makes suggestions to remove urban congestion. The concept is to select a cluster of 10-15 villages around a town and develop the necessary infrastructure.

It seeks to achieve uniform development by developing roads, water supply, transport, telecom services and power. The PURA model envisages education for children, literacy programmes, training for farmers and development of agro-industries to improve the rural economy. By improving IT connectivity and services, it seeks to develop a knowledge-powered rural development strategy.

The improved market access is expected to ensure more remuneration for farmers, artisans and craftsmen. Development of entrepreneurship among rural people is a thrust area. The District Collector is the nodal Officer for implementing PURA.

The State Government had earlier identified 12 clusters for the PURA pilot project. These include Kayamkulam, Thodupuzha, Payyannur, Kanhangad, Punalur, Kottayam, Koyilandy, Ponnani, Ottapalam, Thiruvalla, Kunnamkulam and Kalpetta.

The Department of Rural Development has prepared detailed reports for these 12 clusters.

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