Aluva’s new chairperson prefers realistic approach, says priority is to finish pending works

Saiji Jolly Moothedan, the newly elected chairperson of Aluva municipality, likes to keep it simple and realistic when it comes to administration. The third-term Congress councillor, who was the deputy chairperson in the previous council, says her priority will be to finish the ongoing development projects, mainly the renovation of the market complex, in a timely manner before making tall promises.

Ms. Moothedan said the council’s immediate concerns would be to ensure smooth conduct of the famed Sivarathri celebrations at the Siva Temple on the banks of the Periyar and find a solution to frequent pipe bursts in the town. She said cleaning of Aluva town and completion of pending projects, including renovation of the municipal town hall and reconstruction of the mini market at Thottakkattukara, are also among the issues that need to be addressed. She also highlighted the need to fix traffic snarls in the town.

“When a new council takes charge, obviously, there will be huge expectations. We do welcome new suggestions from all corners, but we can take a decision on new projects only after considering all aspects, including environmental concerns,” Ms. Moothedan added.

She said the municipality would continue to focus on waste disposal at its source. She said more people would be encouraged to use the Robobin booth, a self-waste management facility set up under a public-private partnership model in the town. She said she would try to address the plight of people who had been chosen as beneficiaries of the Life Mission housing scheme but had yet to receive the funds.

Newly elected deputy chairperson Fassil Hussain said that projects to increase the local body’s own revenue would have to be designed and implemented. He was the chairperson of the education, arts and sports standing committee in the previous council.