Kottayam: Though the budget allocation for Kottayam district mostly gives thrust for developing infrastructural facilities, there is a general opinion that addressing the issue of drought and initiatives for stemming the financial depression should have been given immense priority. The budget has allotted funds for the construction of several new roads including Pathinalil Chira - Nattakom road (Rs 20 crore), Dormakavala- Vellathuruthy road (Rs 20 crore), Kodimatha- Kalathilkadavu road (Rs 20 crore) and the road from Illickal Bridge to Kumarakom (Rs 120 crore). Travancore cement factory at Nattakom will get Rs 10 crore for its renovation.
While budget is mum on the Sabari railway project has found no mention in the budget, it makes a mention of the construction of an airport at Erumely to help Sabarimala pilgrims, though without funds allocation. Kottayam MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said that the budget was fair and most of the proposals submitted by him were approved. Farmers in Kumarakom and Changanacherry, among other places, will benefit from the decision to earmark Rs 700 crore for paddy procurement, he said.
“The priority should have been on addressing the issues of drought and financial depression and for rectifying the discrepancies in the distribution of the ration food products,” said Kerala Congress chairman P.C. Thomas. “No amount has been earmarked for the establishment of three spillways at Vaikom for resisting the salt water the budget mentions about establishing it.”
