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.