Thiruvananthapuram 16-11-2011: Government has decided to put a moratorium on the repayment of farm loans taken from Government departments and other government agencies for a period of one year, said CM. This decision is on the basis of the report submitted by Additional Chief Secretary K Jayakumar and Agriculture Production Commissioner. CM was briefing the media after the cabinet meeting.

CM said that all penal interest on these farm loans will be written off and added that a   10 % interest relaxation would be given to those who have already repaid the loan. CM informed that Government will hold special meetings with regard to the loans taken from commercial and cooperative banks.

Farmers Debt Relief Commission Act will be amended so as to give a relief to all those farmers who have taken loan up to 31 October 2010. The role of micro credit agencies will be examined in the wake of Wayanad developments, said CM.

APC has been instructed to give a report on the procurement of agriculture produces at a benchmark price. Paddy procurement in Wayanad will be started this year, said CM.

CM said that a special monitoring and evaluation committee with Agriculture Minister as chairman will be constituted and added that Government will consider the possibility of distributing agricultural subsidy through banks.

Decision has also been taken to form Farmer Friendly Committees with Panchayath President as Chairman at Panchayath level. The compensation amount for the loss of crops by wild animals will be hiked.

CM said that the cabinet has given final touches to the Government’s One Year Plan and will be announced tomorrow. Government has also given the stamp of approval to the Housing Policy.

The minimum share amount of Kannur Airport has been reduced to Rs 50,000 from Rs 200100. An electronic park will be set up at Ambaloor village in Ernakulam district. Ernakulam district collector has been instructed to complete the land acquisition activities on a single window clearance mode.

It has been decided to name the Thrissur Town Hal after the former CM K Karunakaran. His statue will be erected there and Rs 30 lakhs has been allotted for the same.

Government has decided to open 600 retail outlets to arrest the vegetable price hike. 400 outlets will be opened by Consumer fed and the other 200 will be by Horticulture Corporation, VFPCK and Civil Supplies Corporation. Top priced items will be sold at a subsidized price, said CM. CM has also informed that Sam Pitroda has agreed to be the mentor for the Kerala Development.

The kin of those who were electrocuted in Poroor village in Malappuram will be given a solatium of Rs 6 lakhs and the kin of Vinneth a student of NSS Engineering College, Palakkad who died during Ratholsavan will also be given a solatium of Rs 2 lakhs.