The Hindu             20.06.2013

Rs.51-crore development plan formulated for Thrissur

Mayor I.P. Paul has called for a well-balanced and long-term vision plan for the development of Thrissur Corporation.

He was addressing the decentralised development seminar of the corporation for 2013-2014 here on Wednesday.

He said projects should be chalked out according to the development potential of the city.

The seminar formulated development projects worth Rs.38.15 crore under the general category and Rs.13.17-crore projects under the special category, totalling Rs.51.32 crore. Projects worth Rs.5.02 crore were prepared as maintenance grant for road development and Rs.6.55 crore earmarked for infrastructure development.

Mr. Paul said Thrissur was a fast-developing city in the State. “Planning should be far-sighted, sustainable and practical. Without a well-chalked out plan, development will be a damp squib. There should be continuity in the projects,” he said.

The Mayor urged the corporation’s working groups not to include projects in the development agenda that were impractical and detrimental to the poor. He said the major thrust areas of the plan would be infrastructure development, welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and women’s empowerment. Deputy Mayor Subi Babu presided over the seminar. Corporation Secretary K.M. Basheer enumerated the highlights of the projects. Standing committee chairpersons and councillors attended.