Kerala held local body elections in December 2025. By February 2026, the first ward-level meetings chaired by newly elected local representatives were under way. Pala Municipality is divided into 26 wards and has an equal number of councillors. This time, Ward 23 was reserved for women candidates, and Princy Sunny emerged victorious after a closely fought contest, defeating former municipal chairperson Mary Dominic by 33 votes. Sunday, February 8, saw the first ward meeting in Ward 23, held at Brilliant College, Pala, near St Thomas College.
A municipal staff member was present to record the proceedings and obtain signatures in the attendance register. The elected representative invited residents to raise their concerns by a show of hands. Issues raised included the need for drinking water connections, flooding on roads after rainfall, and the clearing of garbage clogging an important water source used by several households. Residents also flagged concerns about the proliferation of incinerators and the possible increase in heat levels.
Several families in the ward are engaged in agriculture. They spoke about the need for proper access from their homes to their fields, noting that the drain they must cross often fills with garbage after rains. Broken bottles are swept along with the water, making it dangerous to step into the drain.
Former councillor Jimmy Joseph, who had earlier represented the ward, was also present. Explanations were offered regarding delays in the piped drinking water supply to certain parts of the ward. Suggestions from residents were noted, and possible future courses of action were outlined.
At first glance, such meetings suggest a form of participatory democracy in which decision-making at the municipal level is guided by collective wisdom. In practice, however, there are instances where decisions taken elsewhere are imposed on local bodies.
The Pala River View Road project is one such example. Planned at a cost of several crores, the project involved constructing a road along the Meenachil River, with pillars placed inside the river and concrete poured directly into it. Years later, what remains are pillars and a partially completed concrete structure lying abandoned, with creepers growing over exposed iron rods. Construction came to a halt after the project was challenged in court, resulting in what many view as a significant waste of public funds. A list of academics was among those consulted in the process (https://cdn.s3waas.gov.in/s3577ef1154f3240ad5b9b413aa7346a1e/uploads/2024/08/2024081971.pdf�). An English version of the document is available at the end.
In the 2026–27 Budget, Kerala Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced an allocation of Rs 7 crore for Pala Infocity, aimed at expanding urban infrastructure and attracting IT investment. This proposal warrants careful examination before implementation. Pala is known for its fertile soil and long-standing tradition of agriculture and livestock rearing, which remain its core strengths. Large-scale tree felling is already under way, and construction to meet the demand for hostels linked to coaching centres has begun to affect groundwater conservation and air quality. Further construction and increased crowding under these conditions may be undesirable. Moreover, with IT stocks under pressure and engineers finding it harder to secure jobs, the question of whether fertile land should be diverted for an IT city requires serious deliberation. It also remains unclear whether the Pala local government was consulted before this budgetary announcement.
Of the more than 600 voters listed on the ward’s electoral rolls, only about 10 per cent attended the meeting. Accommodating all voters would have been difficult, and the low turnout suggested that wider participation may not have been anticipated.
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Rosamma Thomas lives in Ward 23, Pala
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