KERALA

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.

The state cabinet, gave its nod to the draft bill that will remove the governor from the chancellor post of all the universities in state. It is learned that this bill will be brought on the very first day when the assembly session begins on December 5. Though the state cabinet has given its nod to the draft bill, once the assembly passes an Act, it has to be approved by the governor later.

Since an amendment in the Universities Act will have to be made for each university, a decision was taken to have a single chancellor for like-minded universities. Hence, the cabinet decided to bring in five separate amendments for creating the chancellor’s post. The allowances and other benefits for the chancellor will be met from the university’s fund. It is learnt that there will be separate chancellors for Health, Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture, digital, veterinary and universities and Cusat. There will be a single chancellor forKerala, Calicut, Kannur, MG, Sanskrit, Malayalam and Sree Narayana universities.

The service period of a chancellor will be five years and the office will be set up at the university’s headquarters. A person will be eligible for re-appointment as chancellor for only one additional term. The higher Education minister will be the pro-chancellor of all universities in Kerala. The government has decided to rope in experts from respective fields as chancellors.

The amendment is being brought in the Universities Act to remove the clause that the person holding the position of the governor will also be the chancellors of all universities in the state.

Bihar, with its dismal scores across key development indicators such asnutrition, child andadolescent mortality,maternal Health, years of schooling,sanitationandelectricity, has topped the list of states with the largest share of Population who arepoor, according to think tankNiti Aayogs report, which has identified 25.01% of the countrys population as multi-dimensionally poor.

More than 50% of Bihars population has been classified as poor under the national Multi-dimensional POVERTY Index (MPI), followed by Jharkhand (42.2%), Uttar Pradesh (37.8%), Madhya Pradesh (36.7%) and Meghalaya (32.7%).Keralahas the least number of poor with only 0.7% of its population classified as such. Among the Union territories, 27.4% of Dadra and Nagar Havelis population is poor, according to the MPI parameters.

837 licensees have evinced interest in partnering with the government to establish Kerala Stores (or K-Stores). The government intended to launch at least five such multi-service centres in each district in the initial phase of the project, he added.

The proposed outlets will have an area of not less than 300 sq ft. Ration dealers who express willingness to establish the outlets will be provided priority. Preference will also be given for those outlets situated in locations where there are no Supplyco outlets, banks and Akshaya centres within a radius of 2 km.

TheKochiMetro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has approached the Agriculture-notes-for-state-psc-exams”>Agriculture department with a proposal to start vegetable cultivation on 17 acres of land at Kakkanad, where the proposed Bliss city project is coming up.
The agriculture department has accepted the proposal and asked KMRL to do preparatory works like pruning of trees, cleaning wells, fencing and removing .
The land at Kakkanad has been remaining unutilized for quite some time.

KMRL has already invited tender to clear weeds in the land. As part of Women Empowerment, Kudumbashree will be entrusted with the task of cultivating vegetables in the area.