Promises galore

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K M Mani’s alteration Budget presented on Friday has set apart Rs 30 crore for capital city development and Rs 1 crore for upping security at the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, even as it has  promised comprehensive development of Aruvikkara and solutions to problems related to drinking water supply to the city.Mani reiterated the UDF Government’s commitment to making the Vizhinjam seaport a reality, listing it as a priority and earmarking Rs 150 crore for this year’s work. However, there is nothing new in this as LDF’s T M Thomas Isaac had announced the same amount in February after the Cabinet decided to allocate funds for the project in instalments every Budget henceforth.The Budget has announced a development agency for Varkala taking into account its importance for pilgrims and tourists. A convention centre of international standards also has been promised at Varkala, with the Budget setting apart Rs 50 lakh for this.There are two plans to improve the water supply to the city. The water level of the Peppara Dam will be raised by six metres from the present 104.5 metres. Mani said that the necessary clearances will be obtained from the Ministry of Environment and Forests soon. Old water distribution pipelines in the city will be replaced with Ductile Iron pipes.T M Thomas Isaac’s Budget presented on February 10 had as its promises a Life Science Park, an Inter-University Centre and Rs 25 crore for the Regional Cancer Centre. And the big one then was a Rs 250 crore package for development of city roads. These projects are still on.