Page -->> 3

Alappad panchayat has a length of about 17 kms and a width ranging from 150 mtrs. to 1000 mtrs. and is flanked by Arabian Sea on its west side and T.S.Canal on its east side. The Panchayat is vertically bifurcated into two parts by a road extending from north to south. The State Government have decided not to construct new houses between the Arabian Sea and the said road and instead decided to construct new permanent houses, for the families that lost houses located in the said area (before Tsunami), by procuring land by State Government on the other side of the TS Canal. Accordingly, we have purchased about 45 acres of land in the neighbouring panchayats i.e. Kulasekharapuram, Clappana, Adinadu and Ayanivelikulangara on negotiated purchase basis by following transparent purchase procedures.

The lands so purchased were divided in to townships consisting of plots of 4 cents each. Space was earmarked for internal roads of 2 mts. width and for covered drains of 25 cms. each on either side of the road. At the same time, at least 4 cents of land was also earmarked as common space for the construction of a community hall etc. for the benefit of the residents of the township.

The policy of not constructing any more new houses between the road and the sea and the policy of constructing only Disaster Resistant Houses in the areas towards the land side of the road shows the concern of the government for the future safety of the people of Alappad Panchayat.