Faced with the challenge of shrinking urban spaces for implementation of infrastructural development projects, the city Corporation is planning to re-orient its development perspective to go vertical.
As part of this, the Corporation is mulling over a proposal to increase the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of multi-storeyed buildings in the city.
Increasing the FAR, which is the total area covered on all floors of a building to the area of the plot on which the building stands, was among the proposals discussed at the general body meeting of 19 working groups constituted by the civic body for the formulation of plans under the 12 Five Year Plan held here on Tuesday.
Corporation works standing committee chairman V.S. Padmakumar said the proposal, after being discussed at various levels, would be included in the draft plan of the civic body and submitted to the State government for concurrence.
“Increasing the FAR cannot be decided at the Corporation level. It will require a policy decision at the State government level. However, this is among the key proposals that we wish to put forward in our draft plan. Before including the recommendation in the draft plan, the working group recommendations will have to be further discussed and approved at the ward committees and Corporation council,” Mr. Padmakumar said.
Another innovative proposal put forth by the public works working group is construction of ground water rechargeable roads, which includes construction of rainwater wells under the road surface to collect storm water channelled through drains.
The technology is intended to address water logging on roads and help in recharging the water table in the locality.
Installation of biogas plants in all government schools, markets, anganwadis and Corporation institutions, increasing the fund for ward-level sanitation committees to Rs.50, 000, and construction of ‘Suchitwa’ public toilets in the city are among the proposals put forth by the working group on public sanitation. The sanitation working group has also proposed the setting up of a vegetable farm and animal farm at the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant area.
The proposals suggested by health working group include maintenance and upgradation of various hospitals falling under Corporation’s jurisdiction, procurement of ambulances and mobile mortuary, establishment of a corporation blood bank, and Neethi medical stores in coastal areas.
Teachers’ training programme, continuation of ‘Unarvu’ breakfast scheme, and construction of compound wall for all schools are some of the recommendations made in the education sector. “The proposals prepared by the working groups are for two years. They will be prioritised and included in this year’s and next year’s plan after consolidation and further discussions,’’ Mr Padmakumar said.
