KOCHI: Minister for Local Administration K.T. Jaleel inaugurated the Edavanakkad-Kuzhuppilly drinking water project on Sunday. The project, which will serve Edavanakkad and Kuzhuppilly panchayats, was executed under the aegis of the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) at a cost of ₹21 crore.
The Department of Fisheries offered ₹5 crore for the project, said a press release here. The facilities include a 11-lakh-litre overhead water tank.
S. Sarma, MLA, and District Collector K. Mohammed Y. Safirulla, along with officials of GIDA and people’s representatives from the panchayats, were present at the inauguration of the project.
The drinking water project is among the initiatives undertaken by GIDA for the development of Vypeen. The GIDA area includes Vypeen and Vallarpadam as well as Mulavukadu and Kadamakkudy panchayats, and eight islands lying close to the Ernakulam mainland.
GIDA has also undertaken two more major drinking water projects. Once completed, these projects, together with the one commissioned on Sunday, will cater to the drinking water needs of the entire GIDA area. The projects include the ₹32-crore Kadamakkudy drinking water project and the ₹56-crore Nayarambalam-Njarakkal-Elamkunnappuzha drinking water project.
Another major initiative undertaken by GIDA for the islands is the Moolampilly-Pizhala bridge. Work on the ₹82-crore project is progressing fast, and around 40% of it is over. Similarly, almost 80% of work on the Chathanad-Valiyakadamakkudy bridge, which costs around ₹62 crore, has been completed.
GIDA has also undertaken works to strengthen eight weak bridges along the Vypeen-Munambam Road. The total cost of the projects is estimated to be more than ₹42 crore.
