KERALA

TheKeralasolid Waste Management project (KSWMP) has identified four waste dumping sites inErnakulamto conduct drone mapping to assess the quantity of waste piled up at the sites and prepare a project to clear it scientifically.

Mapping will be done at the dump sites at Kothamangalam, Kalamassery,North Paravurand Muvattupuzha. Identifying the quantity of waste will help formulate projects for clearing the waste and reclaim land by the local bodies. Regarding Brahmapuram, the has taken up the matter. The drone mapping is conducted at dump sites with more than 10,000 square metres of garbage piles, said a KSWMP official.

In Kalamassery, the dump site is functioning in the heart of Kalamassery town itself. The waste is piled up on 0.75 acres there.

The dump site at Kothamangalam Municipality is functioning at Kumbalathumuri area on 2.60 acres. While the dump site at Muvattupuzha municipality is functioning on 5.47 acres atKurianmala, the one at North Paravur is spread across 2.40 acres at Vedimara.

In an emergency, it will assist elderly citizens in attracting the attention of their neighbours by using a loud, remote-controlled alarm.

It has been in effect in Kerala since 2018.

ASAP Kerala, the ‘s Additional Skill Acquisition Programme, has received recognition from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to provide drone pilot training and certification.

This makes ASAP Kerala the first and only agency in Kerala to offer such training.

The approval comes after a rigorous process and will allow ASAP Kerala to offer a 96-hour executive programme in Small Category Drone Piloting Course that can be completed in 16 days, including a five-day DGCA licensing programme.

The course covers various aspects of drone technology, such as 3D mapping, UAV survey, UAV assembly and programming, and aerial cinematography.

Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Systems Pvt Ltd, based in Ernakulam, is the training partner for ASAP Kerala.

The Growth of drone technology is expected to create more than 80,000 jobs in the coming years, and the availability of DGCA-approved training institutes in Kerala will help in the skilling of the workforce.

This round of assembly had many firsts, not the least among them being Mamata Banerjee emerging as thefirst female CM of a major state to win a third successive term in office. While she did that in part by completely decimating the Left andCongress a blank slate for them inBengalbeing another first the Left chalked up its own first by winning asecond successive term inKeralaand that too with an even bigger win than five years ago, 99 seats compared to 91.

In a year in whichCovidhas hogged the headlines, it is telling that Health ministerK KShailajaor Shailaja Teacher as she is popularly known, had thehighest margin in Kerala of nearly 61,000 voteswithCM Pinarayi Vijayan(incidentally the oldest of the CMs in this round) a distant second on this count.

Smart cityThiruvananthapuramLtd (SCTL) and Thiruvananthapuram development authority (Trida) will share the revenue generated from three smart city projects being implemented at Palayam andChalai.

The has approved the revenue sharing model between SCTL and Trida in developing the three projects rehabilitation block at Palayam (on M block and waste dump site) as part of Palayam market redevelopment, multi-level car parking complex (behind Saphalyam complex) and Warehousing complex at Attakulangara, Chalai. These projects are being implemented using smart city mission funds.

As per the memorandum of understanding, the share of SCTL will be the cost incurred for project development and annual maintenance contract for five years.

The state cabinet has given approval to the Rs 93 croreKovalamtourism development project. Tourism ministerMohamed Riyassaid that the project will facilitate a grand make-over of the iconic global tourist destination.
Apart from elevatingKeralas status as a major tourist hub further, the comprehensive project will lead to extensive development of Kovalam as a world-class beach destination.

The government has given approval to the scheme by including it in Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) projects. It envisages renovation of Kovalam along with its adjacent beaches, besides ensuring coastal conservation. It fulfils the demand for a comprehensive development of Kovalam which has borne the brunt of frequent rough sea conditions.

CPM state secretaryKodiyeri Balakrishnansaid that the party conference will be discussing an outline for the development of the state. Factors which can contribute to the making ofNava Keralamwill be the key component of the outline,Kodiyerisaid, while speaking to the media in Kochi on Sunday.

In 1956 also, the state conference had discussed such a report on the states development agenda, said Balakrishnan. It is for the first time that the CPM-led front gets SUCCESSION in the government. This reflects the hope people have placed on the party and LDF. Despite all these factors, the partys mass base will have to be further increased, said Balakrishnan.
The current report on development outline will consider green issues as well, he said. Stress will be given for designing sustainable projects which may not cause damage to the Environment, he added.

The has decided to raise Rs 1,500 crore from the market as Kerala continues to be in a financial crisis.

The government decided to raise the amount and use it for developmental activities in state. However, it is also learnt that the funds are meant for the disbursal of salaries and pensions next month.

The states main committed expenditure include salaries, pensions and interest payments on loans and the revision of salaries and pensions based on the recommendations of the 11thpay commission alone has caused an additional burden of Rs 15,000 crore annually to the exchequer.

Additionally, the state’s share from central taxes was reduced to 1.92% by the 15th Finance Commission, which was earlier 3.875% during the 10th finance commission. Kerala has sustained a loss of at least Rs 20,000 crore through this head, the finance minister had said.

Even when the government blames Centre for reduced Revenue Deficit grant, the state is the recipient of the largest share of revenue deficit grant as recommended by the 15th finance commission from 2020-21 to 2025-26.

State Wetland Authority ofKerala(SWAK) is developing a web portal and mobile application for three Ramsar sites – Vembanad Lake, Ashtamudi Lake and Sasthamkotta Lake in Kerala. SWAK has entrusted the work to Keltron.

The web portal and mobile app are developed to make the public aware of the changing water quality, sediment accumulation, migratory birds presence and other biological richness of the site. Map of the Ramsar site will also be available on the portal.

Changes that happened in the wetland over a period can be identified on the portal, and if anyillegal reclamationhappens at the site, it will be reported through wetland mitras on the portal. Government can intervene to prevent such illegal activities, said the official.

As wetlands are major Resources“>Water Resources, people residing near Ramsar sites, can take necessary steps in case the water quality is found poor in the examination. Public can access details by volunteering as wetland mitras, and SWAK will give username and password to access the details.

TheKeralastate electricity board (KSEB) in association with the statetransport departmentwould set up pole-mounted charging stations for e-autorickshaws across the state.

As per the plans, each of the assembly segments that fall under the corporation limits would get 15 charging stations and the rest would get five charging stations each. The meeting has also decided to appointment agency for new and research and technology as the nodal agency for disbursing the 25% subsidy announced by the transport department to private entrepreneurs setting up e-charging stations.