File photo of Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandy
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the government was planning to include Wayanad, which has no rail connectivity, in the train network.
The Railway Ministery has made a criteria that the government should provide 50 per cent of the total cost to start new railway lines.
The government would raise the demand before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his proposed visit to the state this month, though the government was facing financial difficulties, Mr Chandy said speaking at the Chief Minister's Mass Contact Programme in Wayanad district.
He said there was no need for any anxiety on the Kasturirangan panel report on the Western Ghats as the government would take all the necessary steps to solve the issues that would adversely affect the farming community, before its implementation.
Various parts of the state had witnessed violent incidents after Central notification on Kasturirangan panel report last month.
Tight security arrangement has been made with nearly 2000 police personnel manning the security at the venue and outside.
A total of 10,243 petitions from people have been received seeking solutions.