Releasing the division from its dependence on tanker
lorries for meeting the drinking water needs and making the
thoroughfares navigable were the key achievements in the division,
claimed Thampi Subrahmaniam.

On an average, three
tanker lorries used to supply drinking water a day to many parts of the
division as many areas were reeling under acute drinking water shortage.
The issue was addressed by providing new water supply pipe connections
in byroads to these areas. More connections would be provided shortly,
he said.

Though the council came into power nearly
one-and-a-half years ago, precious eight months were lost on account of
the agitation of the contractors of the Kochi Corporation and the model
code of conduct slapped by the Election Commission. The contractors of
the Corporation went for a strike by boycotting the tender works
demanding clearance of their dues. This had hit many of the development
projects of the city. Many projects got delayed as the contractors
refused to take up the work despite floating of tenders, he said.

All the major roads in the division were in a bad shape earlier.

Attention
was paid for making them motorable including the MLA road. Sukritham
Road, Naattukoottam Road, Palluruthy Relief Settlement Road and the one
near Indira junction in the division were not tarred earlier. These
roads were tarred much to the relief of the residents of the area, he
said.

The 40-feet-Road, one of the main streets in
the division, was ill-lit as the civic representatives didn’t bother to
fix street lights there. Electrification works were completed along the
road stretch and sodium vapour lamps were installed, Mr. Subrahmaniam
said.

The re-laying of the 40-feet-Road and MLA road
using bitumen macadam and bitumen concrete will begin shortly as the
Public Works Department will take up the road works in the West Kochi
area. The SDPY Road development project has got a financial assistance
to the tune of Rs. 12 lakh from the MLA fund of K. Babu, he said.

A
large number of drains in the division lacked covering slabs. Covering
slabs were provided for these drains and the height of the road
increased to provide better access and carriageway for vehicles. An
anganwadi and a hall for the area development society were constructed
near Nambyapuram church, he said.

P.S. Viju, who
tasted defeat at the hands of Mr. Subrahmaniam in the election, said
that many promises made by the councillor during the election remained
unfulfilled. Drinking water shortage is being felt in new areas. The
cleaning of drains and maintenance of street lights are far from
satisfactory, said Mr. Viju, who had earlier served as a councillor of
the Kochi corporation.

Future plans

Mr.
Subrahmaniam said that development plans for Kalathara, Kattummal
Parambu and Vilakkupaadam colonies were on the cards. An estimate has
been prepared for implementing infrastructure development projects in
these colonies. A proposal for developing a fish landing centre at the
fisherman colony and construction of a seawall are also being actively
considered. Efforts are also on to generate funds for the development
projects with the support of MLAs and MPs for the division, Mr.
Subrahmaniam said.