Setting up of a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan facility at the Government Medical College Hospital, introduction of In Safe Home Project in thickly populated areas, steps to include the Central Archives on the World Heritage List, establishment of a museum to showcase moments from struggle for Independence, schemes to boost tourism, cultural environment and augment drinking water supply in the city form part of the State budget for 2014-15.
A sizeable amount from the Rs.1,225 crore set aside in the budget for augmenting infrastructure in the State will come to the city, particularly for the development of the Vizhinjam International Seaport. Technopark will get a good chunk from the total budgetary allocation of Rs.134 crore for development of information technology (IT) parks in the State.
Giving a major fillip to health care is the allocation of Rs.8 crore to establish a PET scan, a highly expensive imaging test that helps doctors see how the organs and tissues inside the body function, at the Government Medical College Hospital (MCH). An amount of Rs.7 crore has been set aside to set up a Linear Accelerator at the Regional Cancer Centre.
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Taking into account the rising incidence of crime, the government has earmarked Rs.1 crore to implement the In Safe Home Project, with the active involvement of ex-servicemen, in thickly populated areas in the city. A substantial amount has been earmarked for programmes that aim at giving an impetus to the cultural milieu. The government has set apart Rs.50 lakh for steps to include the Central Archives on the World Heritage List, Rs.50 lakh for setting up an Independence Struggle Museum, and Rs.20 lakh for setting up a cultural centre at Chirayinkeezhu in memory of actors Prem Nazir and Gopy, literary figure G. Sankaran Pillai, and film producer Shobhana Parameswaran Nair
An allocation of Rs.15 lakh has been made to convert the house of Swadhesabhimani Ramakrishna Pillai at Neyyattinkara into a memorial, and Rs.5 lakh each for a memorial to Malayinkeezhu Madhav Kavi and T.K. Divakaran Smarakam. A sum of Rs.50 lakh has been earmarked for making the Neyyar dam area a tourist destination, and Rs.5 lakh for starting preliminary work for establishing a sea life leisure park.
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The budget has set aside Rs.1 crore for replacing drinking water distribution pipelines, defunct pumps and motors on the Muttada-Kesavadasapuram and Ulloor-Ambalamukku stretches. Another allocation of Rs.10 crore has been made for a project to solve the drinking water shortage in Aruvikkara, Vellanad, Uzhamalakkal, and Aryanad villages.
The panchayats of Parassala, Kilimanoor, Pazhayakunnumel, and Madavur have been included in a group of panchayats across the State that will receive a total assistance of Rs.60 crore for rural water supply schemes.
The budget has earmarked Rs.5.5 crore for making the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila stretch a four-lane road, and Rs.2 crore for the Valiathura fishing harbour.