Demand up for dissolving GIDA

KOCHI: The Goshree Island Development Authority (GIDA), formed for the integrated development of the islands surrounded by the backwaters of Kochi, has been defunct for a long time, having failed to take up any major infrastructure development projects in recent times.

Though several projects were proposed for the eight panchayats under the Authority’s jurisdiction for road development, construction of bridges, drinking water supply and the healthcare sector, most of these remain on paper.

The drinking water supply project, proposed for the Varapuzha and Kadamakkudy islands at a cost of Rs 30 crore, is yet to be implemented.

The Pizhala-Kadamakkudy Bridge, Kadamakkudy-Chathanadu Bridge and the Chathanadu-Moolampilly Road are some of the projects proposed by GIDA.

Meanwhile, in the backdrop of a proposal to constitute the Metropolitan Authority for the Kochi agglomeration area, there has been a pressing demand to dissolve GIDA.

“When the panchayats and municipalities in the agglomeration will be brought under the new Metropolitan Authority, GIDA will be insignificant.

As the Authority has already served its purpose, it is better to dissolve it and the development projects for the islands should be entrusted with the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) which will be later upgraded to the Metropolitan Authority,” said N. Venugopal, chairman, GCDA.

GIDA, which was constituted in 1994, undertook the construction of the trio of Goshree bridges connecting Vypeen with the city.

To fund the bridge and to initiate infrastructure development activities for the scattered islands, GIDA reclaimed 25 hectares of backwaters and sold it to big realty companies.

From the sale of reclaimed land, GIDA could garner nearly Rs 330 crore of which Rs 80 crore was spent on the construction of the trio of Goshree bridges. The rest of the money, which ought to have been used for infrastructure projects in the islands, remained unused.