The Business Line 16.07.2009

Master plans for 18 towns in Kerala ready: Minister

Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram, July 15

Master plans for 18 towns in Kerala are ready and the Government is in the process of preparing the plans for other towns, according to the Minister for Local Administration, Mr Paloli Mohammed Kutty.

Replying to questions in the State Assembly on Wednesday, the Minister said that an amount of Rs 2.5 crore would be provided during the current year for the work connected with the preparation of the master plans.

Mr Kutty said in reply to another question that as many as 20,995 files were pending disposal at the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation office. These included 4,129 files in the Engineering and Town Planning section, 3,534 files in the Fort Zonal office and 2,676 files in the Revenue Non-tax section.

Onam bazars

The Minister told the House that the Kudumbasree self-help groups would run more than 1,000 bazars in as many places in the State during the Onam season.

The Finance Minister, Dr. Thomas Isaac, said that the pending honorarium to Mahila Pradhan agents in the State for the last six months would be given before Onam.

The Home Minister, Mr Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, said that only 22 per cent of the police officials in the State were being provided residential quarters at present. The Government would ensure that officials attached to all police stations were gradually provided residential quarters in the vicinity of their work place.

As many as 78 police stations in the State were now functioning in rented building, the Minister said in reply to another question.

Tourism meet

Mr Balakrishnan said Kerala Tourism would organise ‘partnership meets’ in foreign countries and various Indian cities to attract tourists to the State.

He said the meets would be held in Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, France and Italy to attract foreign tourists and 11 cities in India.