Idukki's Edamalakkudy in Kerala is going to be "connected"

Idukki/Kerala: Kerala government has taken the initiative to boost connectivity to the remote tribal panchayat of Edamalakudy of the hilly district of Idukki, among other basic needs. Improving mobile network connectivity is a prime project among them as the hamlet has been facing issues on the same for a long.

In March this year, the state administration sanctioned Rs 4 crore to provide internet connectivity to the hamlet through optical fibre, implemented by BSNL. A high-power committee has decided to hold talks with BSNL to speed up the internet connectivity.

The tribal hamlet is the first tribal panchayat in Kerala and is located 30 km away from Idukki's tourist town of Munnar. But the panchayat does not have a panchayat office, but the same is being operated in the Devikulam panchayat.

However, State Minister for Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities K Radhakrishnan told PTI that the government has decided to bring road connectivity, construction of a panchayat office, and transportation facilities, among others, aligning with rules and regulations of the forest department. He said that the high-power committee had taken a decision on the mentioned initiatives.

"The government aims to improve the accessibility to the tribal hamlets in the state. We intend to improve the road connectivity to provide electricity, telephone connectivity, drinking water and internet connectivity at Edamalakudy," Radhakrishnan said.

The state government is intending to advance connectivity and solve the basic problems the Edamalkkudy residents face, keeping the inherent nature of the tribal settlement intact.

In the village reside around 3,000 people among 750 families in more than 25 settlements in the village. They belong to the Muthuvan community.

The forest department has made the Iddlipparakkadu-Pettimudi road in Edamalakudy motorable.

It was on September 28 the high-power committee met and decided on the construction of a better road. The Public Works Department needs to take over and start the construction within three months after receiving necessary procedural permissions from the SC/ST Development Department, the committee decided.

Minister Radhakrishnan said, "Currently, the panchayat office is functioning from Devikulam. The Local Self Government Department, the SC/ST Development Department and the Forest Department will take steps to seek and grant necessary permissions for the construction of a panchayat office there strictly adhering to rules and regulations of the Forest Department."

He further said that a survey is coming for the houses in the hamlet to find how many of them are inhabitable. Also, a coordination committee will b formed to oversee and evaluate the development works planned for the hamlet. Devikulam sub-collector will be the chairman of the coordination committee, while the Devikulam MLA will be the patron. The committee will have the block panchayat president, grama panchayat president, district/block division members concerned, and panchayat members, among others, as members.