MALAPPURAM: With the exception of few tourism projects in Ponnani and Nilambur, Malappuram has little to boast of in the state budget, the only significant projects being Nilambur bypass and Tirur-Chamravattom bridge. The finance minister has earmarked Rs 105 crore for the Nilambur bypass construction and land acquisition. Another Rs 50 crore has been earmarked for Tirur-Chamravattom Road over Bridge. Other major projects mentioned in the budget are fishing harbours at Tanur and Parappanangadi, tourism development project in Ponnani and Nilambur, Techno Industrial Park at Kakkanchery, with an area of 1.1 lakh square feet and Advanced Technology Park at Ramanattukara at a cost of rS 111 crore. The work for the ATP is scheduled to begin this year.
The proposed 1,267 km-long Hill Highway project, to pass through nine districts including Kasargod, Wayanad, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kollam has been allotted Rs 3,500 crore of which rS 28 crore has been earmarked for Nilambur-Nayadum-poyil stretch. A suburban drinking water project in Manjeri would get Rs 14 crore. AR Nagar panchayat would also get Rs 20 crore comprehensive drinking water project. Another Rs 20 crore has been allotted to Edavanna panchayat for a similar drinking water project. Among the educational institutions, Calicut University would get Rs 24 crore and Malayalam University would get Rs 8 crore.
The selected schools to be upgraded to centres of excellence would inclu-de Government Vocati-onal Higher Sec-ondary School, Kond-otty, Government Boys Vocational Higher Secondary School, Ve-ngara, Government Manavedan Higher Secondary Scho-ol, Nila-mbur, Government Model Higher Second-ary School, Peri-nthalmanna, Gover-nment Higher Second-ary School, Kalpakan-chery, Government Higher Secondary Sch-ool, Perasannur, Kuttipp-uram and Nann-amukku Mookkuthala PCM Government High-er Secondary School. Tirurangadi MLA PK Abdu Rabb raised his concern over banking on Kerala Infrastruc-ture Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for a huge number of projects. "The district has not received any flagship projects, and the state depending upon KIIFB can not be considered a positive sign, since many private agencies are also pooling in for the board," said the MLA.
