KOCHI: Padmasarovaram, a recreation project, originally proposed by a CPI(M) leader 15 years ago, resurfaced in the current Budget presented by a Congress leader.
Even after one-and-a-half decades, the idea remains intact, but on paper. Originally, it was the civic administration led by CPI(M) leader C.M. Dinesh Mani that mooted the idea, which was copied by District Congress Committee president and Deputy Mayor T.J. Vinod in the Budget.
The proposal was to develop nearly 14 acres, including the water body between Sahodaran Ayyappan Road and Subhash Chandra Bose Road, into a tourist and recreational zone. Pleasure boat rides and walkway along the banks of the water body were proposed by Mr. Mani, which has been retained by Mr. Vinod.
The Deputy Mayor earmarked ₹2 crore for initial work on the project.
The Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-Hed) of the Kochi Corporation has been mandated to prepare a coffee-table book on the culture, heritage and environment of Kochi in English. The project will get a budgetary support of ₹8 lakh in the initial phase.
The preparation of a city map, which will feature all major locations of Kochi, will also be the mandate of C-Hed. The civic body will not spend money on the project but will meet the expense through sponsorship, Mr. Vinod announced.
The Deputy Mayor promised an integrated environment management plan. Long-term and short-term mitigation measures will be taken, and the initial budgetary support for the project will be ₹5 lakh. C-hed will be put in charge of this project too.
Green protocol will be extended to more sectors in the city, he said.
