Special Officer likely for Attukal Project

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government will consider appointing a special officer for the Attukal Development Project, Industries and Town Planning Minister P K Kunhalikutty told the Assembly on Monday. He was responding to a request made by V Sivankutty MLA. Sivankutty, presenting a submission, said that the project was in dire need of a special officer, staff and a separate department at the Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority (TRIDA). “Rs 12 crore had been sanctioned for the township project. The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and the State Government shoulder a recurring cost of Rs 4 crore for conducting the annual festival. But there is no administrative office for the project. TRIDA secretary and LSG officials are members of the governing body. A separate department at TRIDA is required for the project with staff and a special officer,” he said.    Kunhalikutty said that the government will seriously look into the issue after discussions with the Chief Minister.Seized Vehicles at Varkala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the vehicles seized and dumped near the Varkala Police Station will be auctioned off to avoid traffic congestion in the area. He was responding to a request by Varkala Kahar MLA that hundreds of vehicles dumped near the station were causing traffic snarls. Majority of the vehicles had been seized by the Police and Excise as part of spirit and sand raids.