The State has sought an allocation of Rs 500 crore from the Union Government for creating communication facilities - including roads -in the naxal-prone districts of Malnad region and coastal districts.
The State is learnt to have made the plea during the review meeting chaired by Union Cabinet Secretary T S Chandrashekhar at Vidhana Soudha on Sunday.
Besides the three advisors to Governor, the meeting was attended by the State Chief Secretary and some Principal Secretaries.
Advisor to Governor P K H Tharakan and some Principal Secretaries are said to have asked the Cabinet Secretary to take immediate steps to release the funds before the situation went out of hand. These officials told him that due to lack of communication facility, it had become difficult to combat naxalism in the area.
Stating that the State has received no assistance for flood relief works from the Centre even after visits of three teams from the Centre, the Revenue authorities urged the Cabinet Secretary to take immediate action in this regard. The latter is said to have assured them that he would look into it.
On the international airport at Bangalore, the Cabinet Secretary was informed that it was ready for inauguration. But the rail as well as road links connecting to the airport needed to be taken up. The authorities informed him that better coordination was needed between the Railways and the National Highway Authority of India for early completion of the works.
On the power front, the authorities informed the Cabinet Secretary that the State is prepared to meet the target set for the 11th five year plan, provided the coal allocation is done early.
The Cabinet Secretary is said to have positively responded to State’s plea for additional funds to purchase books for school libraries, and the construction of toilets for girl students.