Property to be acquired to widen highways

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government will expedite steps to acquire land to widen national highways to 45 metres. This was stated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vij-ayan at a high-level meeting held with officials of  various departments before the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

The state’s failure to acquire the land was due to the revision of land prices in various places by the national highway authority, he said.

The Cabinet decided to take over the arrears of '250 crore to be paid to Hudco as part of the package approved by the finance department for taking over Pariyaram cooperative medical college. 

This would be paid in instalments before March 31, 2019. The college would be turned into an autonomous institution on  the lines of the Regional Cancer Centre.

The Cabinet decided to appoint Mr Seeram Sambasiva Rao as Kottayam district collector in place of Navjyoth Khosa who has taken leave for treatment. The meeting decided to provide Rs 1,000 each as  aid to 4,675 endosulfan victims who receive pension from the social security mission. 

A sum of '5,000 each will be paid to 299 employees of the defunct Alappuzha port from the CM’s relief fund. Retired judicial officers will get special pay with retrospective effect from November 1, 1999. 

The state decided to regularise 31 adivasis appointed at Chingeri extension farm in Ambalavayal in Wayanad. An amount of '140 crore will be earmarked for the repair of roads connecting Sabarimala for the  Mandala-Makaravilakku season.

The KIIFB will provide Rs 140 crore for the development of lifescience park for KSIDC. It will also give money to purchase 900 diesel buses for KSRTC. The Kerala Library Council will be given 20 cents of purambokku land in Vanchiyoor village for a lease amount of '1,000 for 30 years for constructing an Information Technology Institute.

The Perambra Government ITI has been provided 11 new posts for starting mechanic motor vehicle, computer operator and programming assistant trades.