KOCHI: Now that the hotly-contested Piravom by-election is behind it, Kochi has to move on with a spate of projects and proposals awaiting official sanction. These projects were put on the back burner lest they breach the Election Commission’s code of conduct. Or because the powers-that-be were more focussed on the nitty-gritties of the high-profile battle at Piravom.The Kochi Corporation is seeking a month’s extension for utilisation of Plan funds owing to the delay in implementation of the projects. “There are 800 small and large projects, including some for basic amenities, across the entire jurisdiction of the Corporation,” Mayor Tony Chammany told City Express. “None of the projects has been disrupted. But there has been a delay in implementing them. We are meeting Local Self-Government Minister M K Munner to seek an extension for utilising the Plan funds.” Though N Venugopal has been named the chairman of Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), he did not assume office as the election process was on. The functioning of the GCDA is expected to be streamlined with the new chairman assuming office soon. Similarly, Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar had said that the executive council of the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), which takes decisions on the crucial projects in the tourism sector, would be reconstituted after the election. Even nine months after the new government came to power, the executive council of the DTPC is yet to be reconstituted. The proposed renovation of Ambedkar Stadium, with a synthetic turf for football matches is another project expected to take off soon. No further step has been taken after Sports Minister K B Ganesh Kumar announced the project.“I am meeting the ministers concerned on Wednesday to discuss the matter and a decision in this regard will be taken soon,” said Hibi Eden MLA.He added that few other small projects were also awaiting administrative sanction. “The sanction was not granted owing to the Code of Conduct. Now we can go ahead with the projects,” Hibi said. He added that two bus services announced earlier would also commence from Saturday. “Two services, Cheranalloor-Kakkanad and Elamakkara-Aluva, will begin on Saturday. Transport Minister V S Sivakumar will flag off the services,” Hibi said.Earlier, Hibi had earned special sanction from the Election Commission for the work of laying pipelines for a drinking water project at Cheranelloor. “Now that the election is over, politically there is no obstacle before the government. The government should immediately look into the infrastructure needs of the city and the implementation of projects announced in the budget,” said Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman K N Marzoook.He added that the government should focus on widening the Sahodaran Ayyappan Road, the approach roads of Thammanam-Pullepady bridge and the construction of ROB’s at various places in the city.
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