New taluk list brings little cheer

While bifurcation of Kozhikode taluk to form a new taluk with headquarters at Thamarassery has set off celebrations, there is also strong resentment and disappointment that long-standing demands for more taluks in the district have not been conceded.

There have been strong demands for formation of taluks with headquarters in Perambra, Koduvally, and Thiruvambady. In protest against the decision, a hartal was observed in Koduvally on Thursday. Thiruvambady will observe a hartal on Friday. Those demanding more taluks point out that districts smaller in area and population than Kozhikode have more taluks.

Most political parties had sought more taluks in Kozhikode district for administrative convenience. Kozhikode has only three taluks — Kozhikode, Koyilandy, and Vadakara, forcing residents of remote corners of the district to travel long distances to reach government offices for redressal of grievances. The Communist Marxist Party (CMP) announced on Thursday that it was calling off its plan to launch demonstrations in April to press for Tamarassery taluk. Its district committee had warned of an agitation on April 4 and 5 if the demand was not conceded.

M.K. Raghavan, MP, hailed the decision to form Thamarassery taluk, saying that it would lead to all-round development of the region. Thamarassery has a large population of farmers living in hill ranges. The new taluk would save people the trouble of travelling to Kozhikode to get things done, he said.

For Perambra

Former Minister and senior Congress leader M. Sankaran made no secret of his disappointment that the demand for Perambra taluk had not been conceded. Mr. Sankaran told

The Hindu on Thursday that a new taluk would have brought considerable advantages to large number of farmers in Perambra and its neighbourhood. While nobody would object to formation of Thamarassery taluk, it had to be admitted that it would not bring much cheer to poor farmers living in places like Kuttiadi. They would find it tough to reach either Thamarassery or Kozhikode to get their grievances redressed at government offices.

The Congress leader said his party men had raised the demand on many occasions. Both LDF and UDF governments, when in power, had agreed to form Perambra taluk but the promise had remained unfulfilled.

All political parties will join hands to observe a hartal in Thiruvambady on Friday to put pressure on the government for a new taluk. Commissions appointed by the government to study the formation of new taluks had supported the demand for a Thiruvambady taluk.

Mainly due to the support of a large farmer population of migrants from central Kerala, Thiruvambady had mostly favoured the UDF candidates in elections, which is why the front’s supporters here wonder why their government ignored their demand.