People in Kadamakkudy and neighbouring islands are preparing for another round of protest to exert pressure on the district administration and Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) to start work on the proposed Pizhala-Kadamakkudy bridge.
Convenor of Janakiya Samithy K. S. Edwin said bureaucratic red tape was holding up work on the bridge as well as an order for direct purchase of land for the project that involves building three bridges that will end the isolation of the islands in the neighbourhoods of Kadamakkudy.
He claimed that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had promised to complete the project in 18 months when he laid the foundation for the project in December 2013.
The bridges project is funded by GIDA. Sources in the Authority said that work on Pizhala-Moolampilly bridge was progressing while about 60 per cent of the work on Chathanadu-Kadamakkudy bridge was done.
Member of Edappally Block Panchayat Alex Manavalan alleged that an order for direct purchase of land for rehabilitation of families affected by the project was caught in red tape. He claimed that the file regarding the purchase of land for the project was pending with Department of Local Self Government.
GIDA General Council had approved plans for direct purchase of land for the rehabilitation of affected people and for the project at the end of May, 2014, he said. GIDA sources said the land purchase order was awaited.
He also alleged that there was a move to sabotage the Pizhala-Kadamakkudy bridge project and cautioned the authorities against it. Once the bridges are complete, the distance between Ernakulam and North Paravoor would be reduced by about 10 kms, he added. Mr. Edwin said that Pizhala-Kadamakkudy bridge is the most important of the trio of bridges and delay in starting work on it had disappointed the islanders.
