The government is in possession of a report on the reorganisation of taluks and villages in the State, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash has said.
Replying to questions in the Assembly on Thursday, Mr. Prakash said the Revenue Department and the Land Revenue Commissionerate had submitted the report. The area of the existing taluks and villages, density of population, backwardness of different areas, development possibilities, geographical limits, transport facilities, and the feedback of the public and elected representatives had been considered in its preparation.
The Minister said the government had 578.36 hectare of excess land which it had acquired to be distributed to the landless. The government was unable to acquire the 6,301 hectare it had identified as excess land owing to court cases and encroachments, he said.
Cases registered
Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob said 41 cases were registered in connection with black-marketing of kerosene in the past one year. Over 37,355 litres of kerosene were seized in raids.
Toll collection
Works Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju said the National Highways Authority of India, Thiruvananthapuram unit, will determine the points where toll should be collected after completing the works on the National Highway 47 stretch. On the NH-17 Kuttipuram-Edapally stretch, it had been proposed to collect toll at two points. The Karamana-Kaliyikkavila road would be developed to a width of 30.20 metre. Encroachments had been detected on the land acquired for road development owing to the delay in starting the work. Instances of organisations putting up temporary sheds for meetings and other purposes and converting them into permanent constructions had been reported. Such encroachments will be removed. An expert committee was examining the draft road policy prepared by the government, he said.
