Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali has directed the Town Planning Department to revise the current draft masterplan 2031 for T’Puram Corporation and formulate a new one after soon making amendments.
The decision came in the wake of the persistent protests from the residents of the Kattayikonam and Chanthavila areas which were marked under ‘Proposed Institutional Area’ in the draft plan. ‘’The residents have filed 196 complaints so far. Taking into consideration the complaints, amendments will be made in the draft plan. Before finalising the new plan, complaints of residents will be heard,’’ Ali told ‘Express’.
Stir Called Off
After the Minister’s decision, the hunger strike staged by the People’s Action Council of Kattayikonam before the Secretariat was called off on Wednesday.
‘’We welcome the move and we are ready for supporting development without eviction. But if the new plan is not satisfactory, we will resume the protest in a stronger manner,’’ said K Thulaseedharan, chairman of the action council.
The relay strike before Ayiroopara village office was earlier stopped following District Collector Biju Prabhakar writing to the Urban Affairs Secretary to fully exempt Chanthavila and Kattayikonam areas while bringing out the new draft masterplan.