Chaotic Kerala

Friens, I have been to the lovely land of Kerala during the Christmas - New Year season. As usual the natural charms of kerala are on the wane. It used to be winter and hence cooler during this time. But i was feeling hot and prespiring. Should we blame it on global warming? The lush green land of kerala is still intact when viewed from above while the aeroplane was landing. However once you walk through the land, the chinks in the green armor is very much visible. There are many spaces - which were supposed to be paddy fields, barren even without grass. May be the real estate people are planning to convert them into concrete space soon. Advertisement of Studio Flats especially in and around the Nedumbassery airport is rampant in hoardings as well as in newspapers. I am wondering whether the goal is to provide one flat for every person presently living in kerala. So many aparments and flats have come up in major cities thereby reducing the erstwhile green lungs of respective cities. Administration shall have a tough time in handling the domestic waste. The problem is acute in cities like Kochi. The proposed Brahmapuram waste disposal plant hopefully is coming p soon. Since my kid is studying in Kakkanad, i know for sure that there is grave problem of fleas and foul smell in and around the brahmapuram plant.
With the economic slowdown, the pace of construction has gone down. I was thinking of cashing upon this opportunity to find a small house for myself. I was flabbergasted while pursuing this target. Even though not much transaction are being done on realty, the prices are still stuck up at the higher end. May be not many landlords require immediate money & hence they will not sell till they get their prices.
Ernakulam city has became a night mare for drivers. If you happen to drive around in the peak hours, you will definitely agree with me. The Vyttilla byepass which skips the city has already become a choking point. It will take 1 to 2 hours to travel from Edappally to Aroor (Terminal Points of Ernakulam City Byepass on NH 47). There are many talking about providing fly overs at Edappally, Vyttilla, Kundanoor but government does not seem to take much action on that front. Plans of Vyttilla bus terminal is also not getting fruition.To add to the troubles of general public, private bus operators went on an indefinite strike for a charge hike. Thanks to speedy intervention by judiciary, it ended in three days. It was funny to hear one ex-transport minister commenting that all these strikes are kind of staged / organized with the knowledge and blessings of political parties government & even that guy had also organized some in his tenure! One silver line in this gloomy transport scenario is the introduction of low floor air conditioned bus service. This is under JNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission)Scheme of Central government. Less than 10 schedules are operated in Aroor, Angamaly, Fort Cochin etc. The same scheme was operational in Andhra Pradesh in Mid 2009. Similiar services were operational in New Delhi in 2007. Better Late than Never !
The omnipresent bandhs & hartals have their field day through out the calendar in Kerala. There was a bandh against price hikes which people celebrated while i was there. As far as i see, prices are higher in Andhra Pradesh (Milk or petrol to name a few). In Kerala, ruling party of the state accuses ruling party at Centre and calls for a Bandh. Again Ruling party at centre calls for a bandh saying that it is the failure of state government. Whichever way, there is normally one or two bandh/hartal every month.
The festive season literally went in high spirits. State Beverages Corporation (BEVCO) raked much moolah for the state coffers in those days. Every year sales record gets broken without exception. Arguably bevco outlets are the only place where mallus come out of their chaotic ways and stand in line with patience in mind as well as money in change in their hands till they achieve their daily stuff!