‘Mullaperiyar’ ward turns heads with its name

As Kerala braces for the section assemblage elections, a recently formed Mullaperiyar panchayat ward successful the elevation territory of Idukki is making headlines with its name. Officials accidental it is the archetypal clip a ward has been christened aft the iconic Mullaperiyar dam.

Kumily panchayat caput R. Ashok Kumar says the caller ward was formed aft the delimitation exercise. “The Kumily panchayat earlier had 20 wards, which accrued to 22 aft delimitation. The Mullaperiyar ward (number 13) covers some sides of the dam. There were 1,299 voters successful 2 booths,” helium says.

“The ward covers Mullayar, Pachakkanam, Mannakkudy, and portion of Periyar Colony successful Thekkady. The archetypal booth astatine Amalambika Convent School astatine Thekkady consists of 1,269 voters, with 612 men and 657 women. Another booth is situated astatine Pachakkanam adjacent Gavi successful the Periyar Tiger Reserve. The Pachakkanam Anganwadi booth has lone 30 voters, with 17 men and 13 women,” says the official.

Pachakkanam, nestled heavy wrong the forest, comes nether the Peerumade Assembly constituency. The Mullaperiyar ward was earlier portion of the Thekkady ward successful the Kumily panchayat.

“The mean country of a panchayat successful the State is astir 25 to 30 sq km portion the Mullaperiyar ward covers 300 sq km. The ward borders the Periyar Tiger Reserve East and West divisions. In presumption of area, the Mullaperiyar ward whitethorn beryllium the largest panchayat ward successful the State,” says Mr Kumar.

“We person started arrangements for mounting up the booth astatine Pachakkanam. Facility for h2o and powerfulness volition beryllium arranged successful the booth. A petition has been made to the State Election Commission to exclude women officials from polling work astatine the booth. Normally, 5 to six radical formed votes successful the booth. Mobile networks and immoderate different means of connection are not disposable astatine Pachakkanam. A requested has been made to the BSNL to put web facilities astatine the Pachakkanam booth earlier the election,” helium says.

Voters successful the Pachakkanam booth request to question implicit 80 km to scope the panchayat bureau astatine Kumily for their needs.

Officials said that the sanction ‘Mullaperiyar’ was fixed to the ward, considering the humanities value of the name.