With the Finance Minister making a few midcourse corrections in the 2016-17 budget presented by the LDF government, the district appears to be losing the focus it had received during the UDF years.
However, while specific projects are few in T.M. Thomas Isaac’s budget, compared to the past five years, one could take solace in the fact that allocation provided for some of the major thrust areas will benefit the district’s infrastructure, the agrarian economy and the education and health sectors in general.
The district may continue to be the biggest beneficiary of the enhanced Rs.500 crore rubber price stabilisation fund and one of the two rubber-based industrial parks have been ear marked for the district.
Infra fund
The decision to increase the Plan fund for universities could come as a boon for the cash strapped Mahatma Gandhi University. In the higher education sector Rajeev Gandhi Institute of Technology (RIT) and the Government College at Nattakom would be the beneficiaries of the Rs.500 crore infrastructure development fund.
There is good news for Kottayam and Changanassery municipalities as they have been included in the 10 municipalities and adjoining areas which have been selected for their comprehensive development. The total fund allocation for the purpose is Rs.735 crore.
Like all others, Kottayam district too will have its Rs.40 crore Kerala Renaissance Cultural Complex. The one here will be named after Lalithambika Antharjanam. The Vaikom Satyagraha Museum has been allocated Rs.50 lakh. There is good news for the sports lovers in the district. While the UDF government had constructed the Rajiv Gandhi International Indoor Stadium in the town, the LDF budget has announced a new multipurpose indoor stadium named after Susan Mable Thomas.
However, the funding provided for the ambitious Sports Institute at Chingavanom and the green-field stadium at Nagambadom have not been declared in the budget speech.
“I will have to check the budget document for that,” said former Sports Minister and Kottayam MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan.
Infrastructure needs
Infrastructure finds a prime place in the new budget and the district stands to benefit from it. The major projects are: the Rs.20 crore flyover at Ettumanur; Rs.20 crore for Kanjirappally bypass; Rs.15 crore for Uzhavoor bypass; Rs.25 crore for Erattupetta-Peermade road; Rs.10 crore for Mutholi-Bharanaganam road and Rs.15 crore for Vaikom-Vechoor Road.
While the future of the mobility hub at Kodimatha still unclear, the inland water transportation in the district could benefit from the proposed Rs.400 crore project for Alappuzha- Kuttanad- Changanassery- Kottayam region. The provisions made for infrastructure development at the new municipalities will benefit Ettumanur and Erattupetta, while Kottayam town will have an Excise Tower and Changanasserry, a Revenue tower.
Meanwhile, Mr. Radhakrishnan said Kottayam had not received the allocation it deserved. N. Hari, BJP district chief, alleged that the budget was a total let down for the people of Kottayam.
District in focus
Decision to increase Plan fund for universities may help cash strapped Mahatma Gandhi University
Kottayam and Changanassery municipalities selected for comprehensive development
Vaikom Satyagraha Museum allocated Rs.50 lakh
A new multipurpose indoor stadium named after Susan Mable Thomas announced
Kerala Renaissance Cultural Complex at Rs. 40 crore
Inland water transportation could benefit from the proposed Rs.400-crore project for Alappuzha- Kuttanad- Changanassery- Kottayam region
