The newly-created Kattappana municipality is facing a host of issues with road infrastructure and waste disposal to be at the top of the list.
Johny Kulampilly, president for four-and-a-half years of the erstwhile grama panchayat and the newly-elected chairman of the municipality, said on Monday that new bypasses needed to be constructed for easing the traffic congestion, especially during peak hours. The new bypasses will help nearby areas to grow.
He said two areas that needed focus were waste disposal and drinking water supply. At present, even hotels use water from ponds and wells and during summer there is an acute shortage of drinking water.
The main source of the town’s drinking water is the Kattappana river. New projects will be drawn up to augment the drinking water supply.
In areas where water source are available, public ponds would be dug.
Parking areas
Parking areas for vehicles will be marked and traffic snarls owing to parking of vehicles will be discussed in the first traffic committee meeting, he said.
A municipal park will be planned so that it will provide a venue for hosting literary and arts events. Kattappana will also be a centre for hosting cultural events focusing on the traditional and tribal art forms of the district.
At present, the waste accumulated in the town is removed to the dump yard near Puliyanmala. A plant for treatment of non-biodegradable waste is on the anvil. The dump yard is away from human-inhabited areas. When more waste is created, this facility becomes inadequate. Burning of waste is not a solution and biodegradable waste will be segregated to make biofertilizers and non-biodegradable waste will be reused. Modernisation of the dump yard will help it. Two more vehicles will be purchased to move wastes and more workers from Kudumbasree will be used for daily waste collection.
Mr. Kulampilly said a 'Clean Kattappana' is his dream. This will be made possible with the support of Kudumbasree.
Tourism
Tourism is a major sector to be developed. There are a number of less known tourist places in the municipal limit area. They will be developed in a way as to get benefits for the local communities, he said.
