Development a key focus, says Thrikkakara municipal chief

The newly appointed chairperson of the Thrikkakara municipality Rashid Ullamppilly said his priority will be the holistic development of the local body with a ‘people first’ attitude. Instead of branching into multiple initiatives and schemes and losing track of them, he plans to outline ten specific goals to be implemented in the first year.

Having strategically prioritised these initiatives, Mr. Ullamppilly said, “The idea is to focus on ten key goals and ensure they are met. These include improvements in waste management, ensuring a reliable and adequate water supply, stray dog control, and fostering sustainable urban development, among others.”

Development is a key part of the agenda, he said. “We need to ensure enough revenue is generated by changing consumer habits. A large section of residents currently spend their money elsewhere. To bring this money back, we have to provide good services. The plan is to remodel the private bus stand and set up a mall, offering the best services, including entertainment, food, and an open gym,” said Mr. Ullamppilly.

In an attempt to provide uninterrupted water supply to all wards, the previous council launched a mini drinking water scheme, whereby water from wells constructed by the municipality in the wards is pumped to houses, in addition to the supply from the Kerala Water Authority (KWA).

“This was started because the utility supplies water on alternate days, which does not fully meet the needs of residents. Over 30 wards are benefitting from this scheme, and the plan is to expand it across all wards,” he added.

Around four tonnes of waste are generated daily in the municipality, he said. “At present, waste is being collected by an agency. Once the plant at Brahmapuram is operational, we plan to either have the waste processed there or set up our own plant,” said Mr. Ullamppilly.

A housing complex will be built for economically weaker sections, and to control the population of stray dogs, the Animal Birth Control programme will be implemented, he added.