Creation of new taluks and villages in the State is not under the consideration of the government now, Minister for Revenue Adoor Prakash told the Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to questions in the House on the demands for creating new taluks and villages, the Revenue Minister said 12 taluks and 30 villages were created after the present government came to power. The taluk headquarters and the villages to be included in the 12 taluks sanctioned in the last Budget would be notified soon.
Denying the allegations of the Opposition legislators that there were political compulsions behind the new taluks, Mr. Prakash said the 12 taluks were created followig the delimitation of the Assembly constituencies. The villages were created in view of the new panchayats that were carved out.
In reply to a question, Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju said the aim was to create bypasses in small cities to check traffic problems. In other cities, the solution before the government was to set up road overbridges and flyovers.
Skywalks were also being considered for hassle-free movement of pedestrians on busy roads and junctions. It would be taken up through sponsorships and without violating rules as advertisements would have to be used for revenue, he said.
The Minster said the land-acquisition process for the development of National Highway stretches in the State would not be stopped and the government would ensure maximum compensation to those who had to surrender land for the purpose.
Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob said priority would be given to set up maveli stores at 60 panchayats that did not have them. Local bodies would have to provide the space for the stores. Fairs being organised in connection with the festivals would be streamlined.
The possibility of setting up permanent fairs in the district and sub-district levels would be looked into, he added.
Minister for Education P.K. Abdu Rabb said in reply to a question that the public entrance examination coaching scheme for Plus Two students who belong to financially weak families and those from a rural background would be launched this academic year.
