Kozhikode Corpn. Budget gives thrust to waste management, environment, health

Town planning, waste management, environment, and health have received major thrust in the first Budget of the present council of the Kozhikode Corporation for 2026-27.

The ₹161.18-crore surplus Budget, with a revenue of ₹1,221.2 crore and an expenditure of ₹1,060.01 crore, was presented by deputy mayor S. Jayasree on Saturday (February 28). She also presented the revised estimates for the 2025-26 Budget.

Following the death of four headload workers in the collapse of the concrete slab of an old civic body-owned godown at Valiyangadi recently, the Budget has allocated ₹20 crore for the demolition and renovation of old structures within the city limits. “The Engineering, Health and Revenue departments will conduct a joint inspection and prepare a status report. Based on the findings, unsafe structures will be demolished, and those requiring renovation will be repaired,” Ms. Jayasree said in her Budget speech.

Regarding waste management, the deputy mayor said a permanent solution to the legacy waste at Njeliyanparamba would be achieved during the Budget year. “The biomining process for removing the legacy waste has already commenced. The project is being implemented at a cost of ₹31 crore under the Kerala Solid Waste Management Project fund. With the establishment of BPCL’s CNG plant, the issues at the Njeliyanparamba plant can be fully resolved. A comprehensive master plan will be prepared for the remaining land, and projects will be formulated accordingly. The master plan will be prepared during the Budget year,” she said, adding that the construction of the West Hill and Sarovaram sewage treatment plants would begin in 2026-27.

In a bid to control air pollution in the city, a carbon audit will be conducted with the support of institutions such as the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration. Ms. Jayasree said the audit would be carried out at regular intervals. An initial sum of ₹10 lakh has been allocated in the Budget to implement projects aimed at ensuring air quality based on its findings. Further, a project titled ‘Haritha Residence’ will be formulated and implemented with the cooperation of residents’ associations. The detailed project plan will be prepared in consultation with the associations. This initiative, according to her, will contribute to ensuring the purity of air and water.

The Budget has proposed renovating Mananchira under the City Beautification project and transforming it into the city’s natural “oxygen parlour”.

In the health sector, the Budget proposes expanding palliative care services to ensure beneficiaries can access them through all health centres in the city. The plan includes integrating Ayurveda and Homoeopathy centres into the palliative care network. Secondary palliative care services will also be introduced. The civic body will take steps to make physiotherapy facilities available to palliative care patients, the deputy mayor said.

According to the Budget, a scheme will be launched this year to provide short-term accommodation within the city limits for economically disadvantaged patients who have undergone kidney transplant surgery to prevent infections during the recovery period. An amount of ₹50 lakh has been allocated for the first phase of the project. A new health centre has been proposed at Ponnamkode Kunnu.

On the stray dog issue, the Budget has proposed setting up cages in all wards, with the support of dog lovers, to relocate sick or aggressive dogs. An amount of ₹20 lakh has been earmarked for the project. “The feasibility of establishing a laboratory in the city to test for rabies will be examined, and steps will be taken to implement it as soon as possible,” Ms. Jayasree said. A ‘Bow Bow Fest’ will be organised for those who adopt puppies, she added.

As part of the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, projects aimed at improving the drinking water supply system and sewage treatment infrastructure have been included. An amount of ₹166.16 crore has been allocated for the plant to be established at West Hill, and ₹164.2 crore has been earmarked for the plant to be set up at Sarovaram, the deputy mayor said.

On the infrastructure front, an amount of ₹16.5 crore has been set aside for new roads. Besides, another ₹31.1 crore has been earmarked for the repair of various roads across the Corporation.