Kochi: The Kunnukara panchayat, in association with various NGOs will implement project worth Rs 32 crore within six months to revive the devastated village. Kunnukara is one of the worst affected panchayats in Ernakulam district where more than 90 per cent of the areas were completely marooned.
The village, announced as the state’s first ‘Ksheera Gramam’ has lost hundreds of cattle, resulting in loss of livelihood for several dairy farmers.
The project to revive the village will be divided into short-term and long-term and reconstruction of completely damaged houses, repairing of partially damaged houses and wells and restoring means of livelihood will be taken up in the initial phase.
The district administration has allocated Rs 14 crore for reconstructing the 350 damaged houses. Each household will get Rs 4 lakh from the district administration for repair works.
Rotary Club, Ernakulam has promised to construct five houses spending '5 lakh each for the selected beneficiaries. A New Delhi-based charitable foundation has already started repairing of damaged houses. They will do the maintenance works of 200 selected houses spending Rs 30,000 to Rs 1 lakh. The total project is Rs 1.50 crore. The K Chittilappally Foundation also is repairing 50 houses. Sanjay Singh, member of Rajya Sabha from Delhi has also promised '1 crore for rebuilding the village.
Another NGO has agreed to implement a Rs 50 lakh project for reviving the devastated agriculture sector, a major backbone of the village economy.
Meanwhile, the panchayat has earmarked Rs 1.80 crore for rural employee guarantee employment scheme. The local body will also spend Rs 90 lakh to repair cow sheds of 180 dairy farmers, Rs 75 lakh for constructing goat sheds and Rs 37.50 lakh for hencoops. Funds have also been set aside for repairing wells and reconstruction of toilets. Meanwhile, reconstruction of 16 houses has already been completed and handed over to beneficiaries.
