KANNUR: The authorities will soon commission an Rs 50-crore water supply project in Thrikaripur Assembly constituency in Kasaragod district to address the drinking water shortage in many panchayaths there due to saline water intrusion said K Kunhiraman, MLA.

"The water supply project, which is part of the regulator-cum-bridge across Thejaswini River, would be commissioned once the bridge is opened to public," he said inaugurating a seminar on comprehensive development of the Thrikarippur Assembly constituency organized by Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA), on Friday.

Once commissioned the regulator-cum-bridge will link Kayoor and Chemeni panchayath and also Neeleshwaram municipality, apart from addressing the water needs of the region, he added.

The project is funded by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

The MLA also said that hill and coastal highways are of paramount importance in the development of the constituency, which also has immense potential for tourism.

Once developed, the 24-km coastal stretch between Ezhimala and Neeleshwaram can attract huge number of tourists because the area is surrounded by rivers and backwaters, he observed.

KILA director P P Balan, who presided over the function, said local development without the involvement of MLAs is impossible.

The seminar and group discussions were attended by representatives of vilage panchayats and Neeleshwaram municipality apart from officials from various departments.