Thiruvananthapuram 18-01-2012: Government has decided to hand over 239 acres of land worth Rs 33.7 crores at Palakkad asked by railways for setting up a rail coach factory, said CM. He was briefing the cabinet decisions here.

Cabinet gave its approval for the amended draft of MOU with banks in connection with the airport land at Kannur.

Cabinet has also decided to appeal the Nationalised Banks to put moratorium on farm loans in Wayanad district till March 31 as done by the co-operative banks. A price support scheme will also be introduced to help the farmers who incurred loss.

Those who take loans to purchase lands from Converted Christian Development Corporation will be exempted from stamp duty, said CM.

A Skill Development institute will be set up at Neendakara. Dr Biju, Director Employment and Training has been entrusted to prepare a project report regarding the same.

Government has also decided to bring parity in scale of pay of teachers and non teaching staffs of panchayath schools with Government staff’s pay scale.

The Cabinet has approved the reimbursement scheme for Cochlear Implantation upto Rs 5 lakhs for Government staffs.

Project expenditure

It has been evaluated that the project expenditure for this fiscal till Dec 31 is 40%. The project expenditure is as follows- Central projects-60%, State projects 45%, and Local governing bodies 30%.

CM has said that vigorous effort is needed to achieve the aim before March 31. For this a review meeting should be held once in 15 days headed by Chief Secretary. A ministerial level meeting will be held during February end. District level coordination committees will be formed. The meeting evaluated that since assembly elections were held during May and the new Government assumed power there has been a slight delay in implementing these projects.

CM said that changes will be brought in for plan implementation from next year onwards. All panchayath schemes will be for 5 years. More freedom will be given for LSGs in plan expenditure from next year and more funds will be made available to them, said CM.

Water Logging in Trivandrum city

A detailed project would be made to resolve the issue of water logging in Trivandrum city. Rs 27 crores will be allotted for implementing the first phase of the project. Rs 98.5 crores will be sanctioned for the second phase and Rs 505 crores for the third phase, said CM and added that the project will be implemented after getting the study report of  RITES.

AHADS to continue

The activities of Attapadi Hill Development Society (AHADS) given shape for restoring the eco-system will continue, said CM.  AHADS will take up the tribal welfare project implemented with the help of Japan. The project implemented in Palakkad district for the primitive tribes will continue with the help of AHADS. The project implemented at Attapadi for developing vegetable cultivation will also continue under the guidance of AHADS, said CM and added that the Government is considering to bring in all the eco- restoration projects in the state under the guidance of AHADS.