Urban News

Councillor - K J Sohan (JDS)

No. of voters -  Around 5,000

Fort Kochi Veli is represented by K J Sohan, former mayor and development standing committee chairman of the Kochi Corporation, who is also a prominent social figure.

The development activities carried out here are on a different footing. Says Sohan, “All the development activities in the division are carried out with a long-term vision. A majority of these projects are designed in such a way to meet the long time needs of the area.”

Land acquisition is a big hurdle in infrastructure development, he points out. “The 23-feet Manthara canal side road is one such project. As more land needs to be acquired, the project is progressing slowly. Some other roads in various parts of the division like the Beach Road and Kombara Muttu are also being developed. Roads like the East Odatha Road and the road from Central Odatha to Jubilee Junction have been widened, levelled and tarred.”

The councillor says that waste management in the division is being carried out effectively since a long time. And now that the division has been selected along with Fort Kochi for the implementation of ‘Zero waste Fort Kochi - Tourism Destination project’, the place will go for more beautification.  According to Sohan, the development activities carried out with the division fund have been accomplished effectively. “Drains have been cleaned, maintained and covered with slabs, pocket roads have been maintained and concreted and street lights have been put across the division. Some drains have been repaired to avoid waterlogging.”  Around ` 20 lakh from the People’s Planning fund has been utilised to renovate the ‘dhobikhaana.’ Sohan says that some other grand plans for the division are in the offing. ` 35 lakh from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP) fund will be utilised for infrastructure development at East Odatha, Manthara and Tharayil Parambu area. Anganwadis, lanes and drains have been  improved.

The eight-acre Veli ground is all set to be developed. The turfing and fencing work will be  done soon. “The estimate for this is ready and money has been allocated from the general fund,” he says.

Tenders for the work of the footpath of K J Herschel road will be invited soon. The 23-feet Manthara canal side road is a project that stopped halfway because of the delay in land acquisition. The recreation centre at St John Pattom is another project for which ` 14 lakh from the People’s Planning fund has been allocated.  While residents staying near the Manthara canal are concerned about waterlogging, those near East Odatha are worried about potable water shortage. Yet another problem faced by the residents is the lack of transportation facilities to some interior areas. This is a division where Janata Dal (S) has been winning in the last few polls. Fort Kochi Veli has been retained in the general category this year.