Cabinet sub-committee asked to submit report

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the objective to evolve a comprehensive law for land acquisition and rehabilitation in the state as well as rectifying the anomalies in the fair price value of land, a special cabinet meet held on Thursday asked for a report from a cabinet sub-committee within a month, after detailed discussions with all concerned.In a post-cabinet briefing, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that the proposed law would address issues related to land including the effective implementation of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, by reconciling the needs of both environment protection and development.Delay in the land acquisition process including releasing of the award amount was discussed in detail by the cabinet, Chandy said.The proposed law will also address the  launch of infrastructure bonds as an option for those surrendering their property, so that they will are entitled to get future benefits arising out of appreciation of land value. The bonds will also be a boon to the government since no immediate payment has to be made to those surrendering their land, he noted.On June 2, a meeting will be convened by the Chief Secretary to elicit views and suggestions of department heads on land acquisition and rehabilitation issues. The cabinet sub-committee will hold discussions and a report will be filed within a month, he said.Meet on higher educationA high-level meet to discuss various issues relating to higher education in the state will be convened here on June 4.The higher education sector in the state has been hit by lack of vibrancy for the past ten years and the new initiative is aimed at bringing about a qualitative change, the Chief Minister said.Apart from ministers and senior officials, university vice-chancellors, Planning Board vice-chairman and the Higher Education Council vice-chairman will take part in the discussions.Paddy procurement paymentThe Cooperative Department has been asked to advance the requisite amount to the Civil Supplies Corporation, for immediate payment of all dues to farmers for paddy procured from them in the last season, Chandy said.Kasargod developmentThe cabinet decided to constitute a commission headed by former Chief Secretary P Prabhakaran to study and report on the developmental needs of Kasargod district.  Chandy said that the decision was based on the suggestions given by KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, who undertook a ‘shanthi yatra’ in the district recently. Even after 28 years after its formation, Kasargod is still remaining backward. Prabhakaran, who had been the collector in the district also,  will file his report within six months.Special Police PackageChandy said that the special cabinet  approved a Rs 5.85-crore special package for the police, specifically to address the needs of Kasargod district. 175 new posts will be created in the district police and the amount will also be spent on purchasing jeeps and telecommunication gadgets, he said.Endosulfan rehabilitationThe special cabinet meet also decided to bear half of the expenses for the  Rs 100 crore rehabilitation scheme for Endosulfan victims in Kasargod. The rest of the expenses will be borne by the Plantation Corporation of  Kerala(PCK). Earlier, PCK was asked to bear the entire cost of rehabilitation leading to a dispute.The families of those deceased and bed-ridden victims will be given Rs 5 lakh each as assistance whereas those with disabilities will get Rs 3 lakh, Chandy said.