Kerala - Alappuzha

Rs.3 crore for EMS Housing Scheme

ALAPPUZHA: The annual budget for the Alappuzha municipality for the year 2008-2009 envisages significant initiatives to address issues related to the health sector, drinking water supply and agriculture.

Presented by Municipal Vice-Chairman Elgin Richard here on Saturday, the budget shows an expected total income of Rs.40.78 crore, inclusive of an opening balance of Rs.1.72 crore, and a projected expenditure of Rs.40.06 crore.

The Rs.72.11 lakh-surplus budget has kept aside Rs.3 crore for the EMS Housing Scheme, Rs.57.5 lakh for agriculture, Rs.20 lakh for three major health programmes, Rs.10 lakh for the continuing garbage-free town project and Rs.25 lakh to help 300 women set up their own ventures, to mention a few of the declared schemes.

Mr. Richard said the municipality intended to extend its existing cultivated expanse of 13 padasekharams to the Karalakam, Atthithara and Potharam padasekharams.

The municipality would also encourage farmers in the Karalakam padasekharam to cultivate vegetables for the second round of cultivation.

The Rs.156-crore Union government-funded drinking water project, which had reached the tender invitation stage, was expected to move further. The EMS Housing Scheme this year would spend Rs.3 crore to construct houses for 1,000 beneficiaries, he said, adding that preparations were on to begin an IHRD-affiliated Applied Sciences College under the aegis of the municipality.

The initiatives on the health front include Jeevan Jyothi, a project aimed at helping cancer patients here and to bring cancer under control in the municipal limits. Rs.10 lakh has been kept aside for this.

Another project, ‘Kazcha,’ will aim at total elimination of blindness within the municipal boundaries. To be implemented in association with the Rotary Club, the project has an initial allocation of Rs.5 lakh.

Health camps in all streams of medicine will also be conducted at a cost of Rs.5 lakh.

The garbage-free town project, which has Rs.10 lakh earmarked for it, will be supported by the solid waste treatment plant, expected to be completed in six months. Tourism clubs to promote tourism and to create job opportunities in the sector and illumination of all the bridges in the town too count among the proposals.

Mr. Richard also announced that Alappuzha would become the first municipality in the State to use satellite imagery and digital maps for tax assessment and related purposes.

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