THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister-level talks will be held with Tamil Nadu to resolve water-sharing issues relating to the Parambikulam Aliyar project, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan informed the Assembly on Friday.The Chief Minister was replying to a submission by Chittur MLA K Krishnankutty. He said the water-sharing disputes with Tamil Nadu should not be viewed emotionally. Instead an amicable way to resolve the issue should be adopted, he said.Pinaryi admitted Kerala has not been receiving its due share of water for the past few years under the Parambikulam-Aliyar water-sharing pact.
As per the agreement, Kerala is entitled to 7,250 million cubic ft from Manakkadavu pier and 12,300 million cubic ft from Sholayar reservoir during July 1 to June 30 every year. As per the agreement, water should be drawn by Tamil Nadu from Parambikulam dam only from the third week of September. However, the neighbouring state opened the canal and drew water from the reservoir on August 8. Also, the water which is due to reach Chittur dam has also not been supplied. This has hit the agricultural sector in the area which is reeling under drought-like situation.
Assault of Dalit woman: Opposition corners Govt
T’Puram: The Opposition cornered the government in the Assembly of Friday by raising the alleged assault of a Dalit woman and CPM member by a party leader during the Mattannur municipal election held on Tuesday. The Opposition alleged the party state unit kept the matter under wraps but was forced to act after the woman approached the party central committee. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala raised the issue through a special submission in the Assembly. Quoting media reports, Chennithala said the woman, who was a councillor in Mattannur municipality, was beaten up by municipal chairman Bhaskaran, who was also an area secretary of the CPM. In his reply, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the allegation of assault was aimed at taking the sheen off the LDF victory in the Mattannur municipal polls. His reply infuriated the Opposition resulting in a verbal duel between LDF and UDF.
Menstrual leave: ‘Consensus needed’
T’Puram: Wide-ranging discussions need to be held and a consensus arrived at before implementing menstrual leave for women, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly on Friday. Pinarayi was responding to a calling-attention motion by K S Sabarinadhan of the Congress. Pinarayi said women face a lot of hardship during menstrual period. “There are increasing demands for the need to allow menstrual leave. However, we should not be oblivious of the other side of the matter. Even today, we cannot say for sure there has been a change in that situation,” the Chief Minister said.
Govt mulls relaxation of CRZ rules
T’Puram:The government is in favour of changes in the Centre’s Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules to protect the rights of fishermen, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly on Friday. The Chief Minister was responding to a calling attention motion by A N Shamseer of the CPM. According to the Chief Minister, the state has urged the Centre to relax the CRZ rules in the wake of complaints from fishermen community regarding loss of shelter. The Centre has appointed a committee headed by Dr Shailesh Naik to look into Kerala’s concerns. The committee has submitted its report to the Centre and the state was hopeful of a relaxation in CRZ regulations on the basis of the report, Pinarayi said.
New ration cards a bundle of errors: Oppn
T’Puram: The bundle of errors which has crept into the new ration cards issued under various categories across the state, over which people are running from pillar to post to rectify them came to the fore in the Assembly on Friday, eventually leading to an Opposition walkout. Former Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob (Kerala Congress-J), who gave notice to move an adjournment motion, blamed the government for miserably failing to address the angst of lakhs of families in possession of error-heaped cards.
12.06 ha needs to be further acquired for Vizhinjam port
T’Puram :Ports Minister Kadannapally Ramachandran on Friday told the Assembly that an extent of 12.06 hectares of land has to be further acquired for the Vizhinjam port. The procedures for taking over the land was going on in a fast pace, he said.With regard to the completion of the first phase, he said it would be completed within the specified time with the pace at which the work was progressing. On the judicial inquiry with respect to the project based on the CAG report, Ramachandran said the inquiry would not hinder the completion of the works. Moreover, he said action would be taken once the commission submits the report.
Life Mission beneficiaries to be listed on Sept 25
T’Puram:The state government has said the final list of beneficiaries of Life Mission, the comprehensive housing scheme for families without land or housing, will be published on September 25. The final list would be published only in consultation with the local self governments, Education Minister C Raveendranath told the Assembly on Friday. The survey for identifying the beneficiaries is almost complete, he said during the question hour. He was replying for Minister for Local Self-Governments K T Jaleel.