Minister directs PWD to complete ongoing road construction in Edamalakkudy tribal panchayat
K.A. Thulasi, the Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes, has issued a strict directive to the Public Works department (PWD)
K.A. Thulasi, the Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Backward Classes, has issued a strict directive to the Public Works department (PWD) to complete ongoing road construction in the Edamalakkudy tribal panchayat in Munnar, Idukki. The Minister set a definitive 45-day deadline to finish the remaining 1.35-kilometre stretch of road connecting Pettimudy to Edalippara, which serves the tribal panchayat. The directive was issued on Thursday during a meeting called to review the progress of various tribal development projects in Idukki.
Additionally, 58 dilapidated homes constructed by the Forest department in the tribal village will be rebuilt as part of the Idukki package. The Minister stated that construction of a godown for storing food items has been completed, and the panchayat has been directed to hand over the building to the Civil Supplies department once a building number is assigned. The Minister also called for accelerating digital connectivity and urged the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) to speed up electrification works in the tribal panchayat.
The State Tribal department allotted ₹13.70 crore in 2022 for the 7.2-km stretch from Pettimudy to Edaliparakudy. Another ₹4.75 crore was sanctioned for the 3-km stretch from Edaliparakudy to Societykudy. However, four years later, the work remains incomplete. While the 1.35-km section of the first phase (Pettimudy to Edaliparakkudy) is yet to be finished — prompting the minister’s directive for immediate completion—proper connectivity to the tribal panchayat cannot be achieved without also completing the subsequent 3-km stretch to Societykudy.
Due to the lack of proper road infrastructure, tribal residents are still forced to pay nearly ₹5,000 per trip to reach Munnar using Multi-Utility Vehicles (MUVs).
The BriefWire