Highway for Christian Encroachment
Indome
Saturday January 15 2005 09:10 IST
PAYYAVOOR: The first phase of the Hill Highway Project was inaugurated here
on Friday by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Inaugurating the work of the Hill Highway, which marks the realisation of
the long-standing dream of people living in the hill region of the State,
the Chief Minister said that the project would be completed in a phased
manner.
PWD Minister Dr. M.K. Muneer presided over the function.
District panchayat member P.T. Mathew, Payyavoor grama panchayat president
K.M. Sebastian, Eruvessy panchayat president Valsamma Thomas, Naduvil
panchayat president C.C. Rajan, Ulikkal panchayat president Benny Thomas,
block panchayat member Chacko Palakkalodi and John Poovathunkal were among
those who offered felicitations.
Hill region's dream project
KANNUR: The Hill Highway linking the hillside villages, especially in the
northern region of the State, has been a dream project for people of the
hill region for decades, despite the objections to it raised by
environmentalists.
The first phase of the Hill Highway which starts from Nandarappadavu in
Kasargod district connects the hillside villages of Kannur, Wayanad,
Malappuram and Palakkad districts. The proposal for implementation of the
Hill Highway project was taken up by the government on the basis of a
preliminary study conducted by the National Transportation Planning and
Research Centre (Natpac) in 2001, although the proposal was mooted by
several experts in the past. The government okayed the decision to implement
the project realising that it would lead to the integrated development of
the hill-region of the State.
The route of the highway was charted following several discussions the PWD
Minister Dr. M.K. Muneer had with the MLAs representing the constituencies
through which the Hill Highway passes. The State Cabinet also approved the
final report of Natpac in 2003 and declared it a State Highway.
According to the finalised route of the Hill Highway Project, the first
phase starts from Nandarappadavu in Kasargod district and ends at
Mannarkkad. The places covered are Perla, Badiyadka, Mulleria, Pallangode,
Anakkallu, Pookkayam, Malakkallu, Kallar, Malome, Vallikkadavu,
Chittarickal, Cherupuzha, Alakkode, Karuvanchal, Chemberi, Payyavoor,
Iritty, Peravoor, Kottiyoor, Boys Town, Mananthawadi, Kalpetta, Meppadi,
Thampurattikkallu, Palunda, Edakkara, Kalikavu, Karuvarakundu, Melattoor and
Alanalloor before reaching Mannarkad in the first phase.
The project estimated to cost Rs. 340 lakhs has already been tendered,
according to officials sources.
According to K.C. Joseph MLA who represents the Irikkur constituency spread
over the hillside in Kannur district, the route of the hill highway was
charted minimising the expenditure for its construction and selecting the
shortest route from Kasargod to Thiruvananthapauram. The existing roads will
be fully utilised in the construction of the highway.
It has been pointed out that the remaining phases of the Hill Highway will
remain a dream project unless the government makes sincere efforts for its
completion. The government can draw up special schemes with the support of
the World Bank or other international agencies for the completion of the
remaining phases of project which is likely to make great leap forward in
the development of the entire State.