Preliminary survey for a hill highway spanning 1,157 km has been completed, Minister for Public Works and Finance Thomas Isaac has said.
Dr. Isaac said in reply to questions in the Assembly on Tuesday that the 30-metre wide highway would begin from Nandarapadavu in Kasaragod and pass through Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam and culminate at Kadukkara in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has submitted a report for renovating PWD rest houses. Priority will be given for renovating the ones in tourist destinations across the State. It has been proposed to work out a renovation project in association with KTDC. A decision will be made at a meeting of officials scheduled on July 18. The KSIDC has proposed to construct a five-star hotel and a theme park on the 56-acre land owned by the PWD at Courtallam. This would be a joint venture with the KTDC. The government will consider a proposal to construct a Guest House at Bharananganam.
Nilgiri Tahrs
Forest Minister Benoy Viswom said the population of Nilgiri Tahrs was on the rise in the State. Between 2002 and 2010, it increased from 302 to 776. As many as 50 check-dams would be constructed this year to protect the ecosystem of forests. A mafia smuggling snake venom, leopard skin, star tortoise and such other products was present in the State. This mafia had links with terror groups and fake currency racket. Stringent action had been taken to check such activities, he said.
Heritage village
Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said 337 acres of land would be acquired at Edava and Ayiroor in Chirayinkeezh taluk for setting up a heritage village for Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs). It would comprise houses, hospitals, schools and other facilities. A sum of Rs.50 lakh was given to the KSIDC for preparing the project, which was estimated to cost Rs.750 crore. The Thiruvananthapuram District Collector had been told to conduct a feasibility study on land acquisition. The government would explore the feasibility of setting up such villages for NRKs in other parts of the State too, he said.
