The district will require Rs.40 crore to repair monsoon-damaged roads, Public Works Department (PWD) officials reported to the District Development Committee (DDC) in a high-level meeting held here on Saturday. In a report filed by the PWD Executive Engineer, Roads Division, it was informed that Rs.10 crore had already been allotted to finance the first phase of the road repairs.
The meeting was presided over by District Collector C.A. Latha. Public Works Minister V.K. Ebrahim Kunju was scheduled to visit the district to evaluate the situation, the meeting was told.
The District Collector in her address said all departments were expected to use up 30 per cent of their Plan funds for development works by September. She said the Planning Board under the direct supervision of the Chief Secretary would evaluate the progress and projects undertaken in this regard.
For farmers
The meeting also saw discussions on various issues with the Principal Agriculture Officer reporting that a compensation totalling Rs.1.99 crore had been distributed to farmers for losses suffered by them till March 2012. The hearing saw the committee push for the early completion of Koyilandy-Arikkulam-Perambra Road.
Koyilandy MLA K. Dasan said steps should be taken to raise the price of coconuts to Rs.25 a kg to promote the sector.
In the health sector, the panel noted, various district hospitals had reported 47 vacancies for doctors.
Koyilandy municipality and health officials drew the committee’s attention to their demand for raising the status of the Koyilandy taluk hospital to a district hospital, saying it was already in a bad shape and even temporarily appointed doctors have not taken over.
From Vadakara
The hospital had over 2,000 out-patients everyday. In a similar request, officials from Vadakara also said their taluk hospital needed to be upgraded to a district hospital. They said the hospital faced major staff shortage.
Demands were also made to set up a forest station at Thiruvambady, install solar electric fencing to protect farmers from wild animals in high-range areas, promote clove farming, aid farmers to combat bud rot disease and accelerate the works on the Kinaloor electricity sub-station.
