The State Cabinet has set up a sub-committee to deal with the issues pertaining to the reopening of the garbage treatment plant at Vilappilsala near here.

The Ministers for Panchayats, Urban Affairs and Health will be members, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, told newspersons here.

The team will liaise with the Vilappilsala panchayat authorities.

The plant had been lying closed in the face of strong protests from locals against alleged health hazards emanating from its continued operation.

The Supreme Court had recently rejected the appeal of the panchayat against reopening of the plant run by Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

This is what has necessitated fresh round of confabulations between the State government and the panchayat administration.

VILLAGE OFFICES

The Cabinet also decided to take forward the ‘one village, one panchayat' policy so that every panchayat will have a village office.

The State government will soon collect data about panchayats without a village office and those having more than one village office.

As the first step, a village office will be set up in Seethathode panchayat of Pathanamthitta district. Vacancies of village officers will be filled.

LAND ACQUISITION

A land acquisition unit will be set up in Kannur under a deputy collector to acquire land for the widening of national highway.

Land acquisition for rehabilitation of landless tribals in Wayanad will be fast-tracked.

The Cabinet has also given financial clearance for the cochlear implant scheme for children. It will be inaugurated in Kozhikode on April 30.

> vinson@thehindu.co.in

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