The quaint little town of Alappuzha in Kerala is gearing up to celebrate an occasion that few other towns in the state can perhaps stake a claim to. Next year, this coastal town, with its canals, parallel roads, and umpteen bridges that earned it the sobriquet ‘Venice of the East’, will turn 250. Various task forces had been constituted to make reports based on suggestions from the public, trade and business representatives, political parties and residents associations on how the various challenges faced by the town on issues, including health, drinking water, sanitation and traffic, could be tackled.
