Land acquisition in Alappuzha for Punargeham project to be expedited

4,660 fisher families in district identified for rehabilitation

A meeting chaired by District Collector A. Alexander here recently decided to hasten various processes related to the implementation of the Punargeham project of the Fisheries Department in the district. The previous Left Democratic Front government launched Punargeham to provide housing for all fisher families residing in areas vulnerable to sea erosion and tidal wave attack in nine coastal districts of the State. The project aims at rehabilitating fisher families living within 50 m of the coastline. Officials said the land acquisition, rehabilitation, and other processes would be expedited. Authorities have identified 4,660 families in the district for inclusion in the scheme. Of these, 928 families have informed their willingness to shift from the coastline. “The district-level management committee has given its nod for buying land for 474 beneficiaries. Of these, land registration for 407 families has been completed,” said an official.