The Hindu Business Line : KRL project set to transform face of Vypeen island

The construction activities for the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project of the Kochi Refineries Limited in a total area of 200 acres at Puthuvypeen has transformed this sleepy hamlet facing the Arabian sea in the Vypeen island into a centre of vibrant commercial activities.

The Rs 620-crore project has opened up employment opportunities to a large number of local workers in the construction site. At present, over 1,000 are engaged and it would go up substantially as the construction of the tank farm progresses and pipeline laying work commences, KRL officials told Business Line.

Small hotels have come up close to the gate of the project site while several shops selling groceries and other essential items are mushrooming. Vast expanses of mangroves under private possession are also being developed, probably aimed at real estate business, as the KRL would be widening the road as part of its community development programme.

The Pubic Sector Oil Refinery has already earmarked three per cent of the project cost, i.e. around Rs 18 crore for community development projects in the Elamkunnapuzha panchayat, where the project is under implementation, and in the Kochi city through which the pipeline will pass through.

The village mostly inhabited by the fishermen community does not have basic amenities such as sanitary facilities, drinking water, streetlights, drainages etc. On the demand of the public, the KRL has agreed to assist in providing these facilities in association with the Ernakulam district administration and the local panchayat.

Under the schemes, the refinery will widen the roads besides laying a new road linking the project with the main arterial road in the Vypeen island. Streetlights would be provided in areas where they are absent. It will also help in upgrading the existing hospital at Malipuram in the panchayat, which will also be provided with an ambulance. Setting up of sanitary facilities will include construction of about 100 toilets, besides developing the drainage system. It will construct culverts across two canals.

For the benefit of the fishermen community, KRL will set up a fish- landing centre in the area. A community hall will also be constructed for the inhabitants. It will also assist in improving the infrastructure facilities in the exiting upper primary school.

So as to improve drinking water supply to the residents, the refinery will participate in augmenting the existing water distribution system besides helping them set up rainwater harvesting facilities. A veterinary centre is also planned.

In addition, for the development of a major road in the Kochi, the refineries will extend financial support of Rs 5 crore to the City corporation for widening the Sahodaran Ayyappan Road.

All these projects will be completed before the commissioning of the SPM project by May 2007, Mr E. Nandakumar, General Manager (Projects), KRL, told Business Line. By the time the project is completed, the face of the village would be changed, he said. "The company feels that it is its duty to develop the community in the area where new projects are set up," he added.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Shipping | Petroleum | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page