CM Satheesan announces blue economy hub in Keralam’s Aroor, inaugurates bridge

Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Sunday said Aroor would be developed as a blue economy hub under the State government’s Mission Samudra initiative. Inaugurating the Makkekadavu-Nerekadavu bridge connecting Alappuzha and Kottayam districts, Mr. Satheesan said Aroor would also be developed as a seafood hub, with the necessary infrastructure to support the blue economy established in Alappuzha district.

The inauguration, however, witnessed dramatic scenes, with Public Works department (PWD) Minister P.K. Basheer and former CPI(M) MP A.M. Ariff sparring over credit for the project, while former Vaikom MLA C.K. Asha left the venue in protest after not being given an opportunity to speak before the Chief Minister and other Ministers left the dais.

Mr. Satheesan said the government would ensure that development projects did not displace ordinary people and announced a special compensation package for residents affected by land acquisition for road construction and related works along the Nerekadavu-Vaikom stretch. The government would ensure that projects were completed within stipulated timelines and prevent losses to the public exchequer caused by delays, he said.

Minister, ex-MP booed

Mr. Basheer, who presided over the function, said the government had sanctioned ₹10 crore for road construction along the Nerekadavu-Vaikom stretch. He also said ₹553.85 crore had been sanctioned for the development of Sabarimala roads. Mr. Basheer faced booing from a section of the gathering when he began his speech without mentioning AICC general secretary and Alappuzha MP K.C. Venugopal. He said the bridge had been constructed directly by the PWD at a cost of over ₹98 crore.

Referring to KIIFB, Mr. Basheer said an expert committee had recently conducted a study and pointed out alleged irregularities in the agency, which was set up during the previous LDF government’s tenure to undertake infrastructure development projects. He said the PWD had capable engineers, but that over the past 10 years KIIFB had drawn them into its fold.

Mr. Ariff was later booed by a section of the gathering when he said construction of the bridge had been completed during the tenure of former LDF PWD Minister P.A. Mohammed Riyas. He said Mr. Riyas did not get an opportunity to inaugurate the bridge and that the present government consequently got the chance to do so.

Expresses displeasure

Meanwhile, CPI leader and former Vaikom MLA C.K. Asha openly expressed displeasure over not being given an opportunity to speak at the event. She was invited to speak only after the Chief Minister and other Ministers had left the dais. Ms. Asha, however, left the stage and the venue without delivering her speech.

Speaking to reporters, Ms. Asha said she had worked hard to realise the project while serving as MLA and alleged that she had been belittled in front of the gathering. She said her decision to leave the venue was a mark of protest.

The bridge connects Thaikkattussery panchayat in the Aroor constituency of Alappuzha district with Udayanapuram panchayat in the Vaikom constituency of Kottayam district, officials said. Mr. Satheesan and the other Ministers, accompanied by a large crowd, travelled from one end of the bridge to the other as part of the inauguration.