PURA

MALAPPURAM: Union minister for urban development Jairam Ramesh inaugurated the national-level pilot project of Provision of Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) at Tirurangadi panchayat in the district on Friday. 

Tirurangadi is among the 14 panchayats, including Thalikkulam panchayat in Thrissur district, selected nationally for the project. The project, with a total estimated cost of Rs 112 crore, would be implemented under the participation of special agencies. The scheme envisages selection of firms to develop livelihood opportunities, urban amenities and infrastructure of prescribed levels and take responsibility for their maintenance for 10 years. 

In Kerala, the project is being implemented by the Infrastructure Kerala Limited (INKEL) and would be headed by the state industries department. 

Rural development minister K C Joseph and industries minister P K Kunhalikkutty laid the foundation stones for the multi-crore drinking water project and the apparel park to be set up in panchayat as part of the project at the inaugural function. 

INKEL will start the work of providing amenities like water supply, drainage, solid waste management, street lighting and telecommunications, in the first phase itself. 

A street electrification scheme, by which solar street lights will be installed in 23.5 kilometre of road in the panchayat, would be implemented. Rs 6 crore has already earmarked for this. 

The INKEL will also construct a 1.5 kilometre long road from the Karimbil junction of NH17 to Chullikkappara, as part of their first phase work. 

The INKEL also is entitled to create revenue earning facilities like village-linked tourism, integrated rural hub, ware housing, agricultural service centre and other rural economy-based projects, by the next two phases.