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Tourism, IT sectors to be exempted from hartals

The law will protect livelihoods and ensure that the economic activity in the state does not suffer, said the governor.

Thiruvananthapuram: Governor P. Sathasivam said in his address to the Assembly on Friday that tourism and IT sectors will be exempted from hartals.

The state government has formulated a piece of legislation to ensure that those indulging in such destruction of private property will be punished and losses will be recovered from them. The law will protect livelihoods and ensure that the economic activity in the state does not suffer, said the governor.

He also proposed to launch a new scheme called ‘Green campus’ to make major educational campuses nature-friendly. The government proposes to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, including the setting up of a Gandhi ashram in Palakkad.

It is proposed to provide solar energy plants, wind mills, rain water harvesting systems, bio-gas, bio- waste treatment plants etc with the support of Kerala State Suchitwa Mission involving teachers and students community. He pointed out that the government has successfully completed Kollam bypass and was going ahead with the Gail pipeline, Kochi-Edamon electric line, land acquisition for road widening, restoration of national waterway and a virology institute.

Under the Kerala Infra-structure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), more than 500 projects worth Rs 41,000 crore have been approved which include drinking water supply projects, coastal highway, hill highway, cultural centres etc. Of these, projects worth Rs 9000 crore have been tendered and those worth Rs 5500 crore have commenced. Overall, projects worth Rs 50,000 crore are contemplated to be undertaken under KIIFB.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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