Kochi's Gandhinagar witnesses inauguration of apartment complexes for 82 families in P&T Colony

In a move to address the long-pending issue of rehabilitating 82 families living in houses on the poramboke land at Gandhinagar, two apartment complexes have been constructed at Mundamveli, and its inauguration took place last week. The foundation stone for the project was laid in July 2018, with a projected completion time of 18 months; however, it faced significant delays. The apartments have been built on 70 cents of land owned by the GCDA at Mundamveli in Rameswaram village and were included in the Life Mission initiative.

The project faced delays due to a spike in steel prices, as noted by GCDA Chairman K. Chandran Pillai. This initiative aims to address the living conditions of around 80 families in P&T Colony who have been living in dire circumstances. The colony was prone to flooding during the monsoon, leading to the relocation of residents to rehabilitation camps. Moreover, the residents lacked access to proper toilet facilities.

The situation prompted the then Education Standing Committee Chairperson, Poornima Narayan, to raise the issue during the Kochi Corporation Council meetings in 2017-18. In 2018, the corporation was on the verge of being declared open defecation-free (ODF). However, to meet this requirement, all councillors had to provide an affidavit stating that open defecation did not occur in their respective wards or divisions.

Poornima Narayan, however, refused to sign the affidavit until the residents of P&T Colony were provided with toilet facilities or an apartment complex for their rehabilitation. Unfortunately, the corporation authorities did not initially address her concerns. It was only when she approached the then GCDA Chairman, CN Mohanan, that progress was made towards the construction of the apartment complex.

This initiative underscores the importance of government bodies and officials working together to improve living conditions and provide essential amenities to marginalized communities. It also serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by residents living in substandard conditions, including the lack of proper sanitation facilities, which can have significant health and social implications. The completion of these apartment complexes is a positive step towards addressing these issues and improving the quality of life for those in need.

Next (Malaysian developer IOI Properties unveils luxury residential tower in Singapore)

Kochi's Gandhinagar witnesses inauguration of apartment complexes for 82 families in P&T Colony

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