Report sought on recovery of loans

KOCHI: Excise Minister K Babu has asked the Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies and the Deputy Director of Fisheries to submit a report to the Ernakulam District Collector regarding the recovery of interests of loans availed of by fishermen. “The government had given directives to the Fisheries Cooperative bodies to wave off fishermen’s debts up to Rs 75,000. But the cooperative bodies have been recovering interests and penal interest for the loans taken by the fishermen,” the Minister said at the District Development Council meeting.The council meet also discussed the issue of  multi-storey buildings constructed flouting building rules. The District Development Council has called for stringent measures against the owners of the multi-storey buildings who violated the norms.While applying for sanction to construct buildings, the owners demarcate parking spaces in the plans. But during construction, the parking spaces  will be removed from the whole plan, the council observed. There were also proposals to conduct frequent checks in case the builders were found flouting rules. It was also proposed to ensure that the newly established malls and buildings had proper parking spaces.