KOCHI: Along with continuing the mega development projects initiated by the previous council, the new Corporation council would focus on the basic needs of the city including good roads, uninterrupted drinking water supply, better sanitation, mosquito eradication and resolving the stray dog menace, said the newly-elected Mayor Soumini Jain.
While attending a ‘Meet the Press’ programme organised by Ernakulam Press Club on Thursday, Mrs. Jain said that projects with long-term growth prospects would be initiated along with resolving some of the perennial issues of the city like drinking water scarcity, mosquito menace, flooding and waste management.
Special focus will be given for the development of west Kochi areas, which have allegedly been put on the backburner of development, she said.
“Top priority is given to the Smart City project and efforts are on to get the city included in the 20 cities’ list in the challenge round. The new council will take forward all the projects initiated during the previous council’s term.”
“A comprehensive drainage master plan to reconstruct and de-silt all canals in the city is in the pipeline. Regarding waste management, the waste to energy plant proposed by the state government at Brahmapuram is in the final bidding stage and will materialise soon. Decentralised sewage treatment plants would be set up in west Kochi with the assistance of international agencies,” she said.
Animal Birth Control Programme, the first of its kind initiated by any local body in the state, has been a success in controlling stray dog menace, according to Mrs. Jain.
“More than 1000 strays have already been sterilized at the multi specialty vet hospital in Brahmapuram. If needed, one more unit will be set up to sterilize more dogs,” she said.
The new Mayor also promised efforts to minimise corruption while taking civic officials, councillors and all stakeholders into confidence.
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