PIRAVOM: An agrarian constituency, Piravom has been a fertile soil for the Kerala Congress (Jacob) group for decades.The constituency achieved a lot under the administration of T M Jacob, who had handled various portfolios in the state Cabinet. The Command Area Development Project (CADA) and the Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project (MVIP), initiated by Jacob, helped him to reach the grassroots level of the villages.The tarred narrow paths and small distributaries of the MVIP had contributed immensely to the development of the constituency. More than 80 per cent of the roads in the constituency were tarred under these projects during the 1990s.“T M Jacob’s contribution to the constituency was invaluable,” said Piravom panchayat president Sabu K Jacob. “The MVIP offices, Kerala Water Authority Project Division Office, fire station, Nechoor Kadav bridge, Peruvammoozhi bridge in Ramamngalam panchayat, Panar bridge in Amballoor, KSRTC depot, BPC College, Manimalakunnu college are among his contributions to the constituency,” he said.“During Jacob’s term, he constructed offices, conference halls, play grounds and other facilities in the schools in the constituency. He distributed computers to the schools, which helped the students to achieve in the field of technology,” Sabu said.His selfless service made him popular among all religions. “During his term as Cultural Affairs Minister, he sanctioned funds for the construction of Shatkala Govinda Marar Smarakam at Ramamangam. He also took efforts to declare Thirumarady Maha Deva Temple, Pazhoor Perumthrikovil temple and Ooramana temple as protected monuments under the Archaeological department, and also aided for its renovation. The Shatkala Govinda Marar music fest was the result of his initiative,” said Wilson K John, president of the Ramamangalam panchayat.One of the major contributions of T M Jacob to the constituency was the KSRTC depot in Piravom. “During his tenure as Water Resource Minister from 2001-2006, he handed over 2 acres of panchayat land to the KSRTC. Balakrishna Pallai was the then Transport Minister. The director board of the KSRTC was totally against setting up a new depot in the state. But the pressure from T M Jacob cherished the ambition of the people of Piravom,” Sabu said. “Now the depot is a full-fledged one, with more than 50 schedules, including low-floor AC buses, operating from there,” Sabu said.The construction of inspection bungalows of the MVIP and irrigation departments helped people in a big way. The MVIP inspection bungalow with modern amenities for VVIPs was inaugurated recently, as part of the 100-day programme of the government.The Mulakulam Bridge, which is under construction, is also the result Jacob’s efforts. He had gained administrative sanction to the Kalamboor hanging bridge across Muvattupuzha River. The thousands gathered at the St Joseph’s High School ground on Monday marked an appreciation to the developments he brought to the constituency.
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