Kochi: Keeping decibels in check
Last year, the sound decibels at Pallimukku and Kundanoor Junctions recorded 106 decibels, nearly double the permissible levels. KOCHI: Last year, the sound decibels at Pallimukku and Kundanoor Junctions
New Indian Express (Kochi)
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Kerala stakes claim for 500 MW from Koodankulam Plant
Taking the tussle between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over Koodankulam Atomic ower Plant project to the next level, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has met Union Power Minister Veerappa Moily to demand an increased share from the project for Kerala. Citing that Kerala is going through a severe power crisis due to the weak South-West monsoon, Chandy has requested the Power Minister to raise the state’s allocation of power to at least 500 MW instead of the expected 266 MW as per the Gadgil formula.
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Government facilitating encroachment of forest land: Benoy Viswam
Former Forest Minister Benoy Viswam alleged that the UDF government is facilitating the encroachment of forest land. “The UDF is trying to override the Ecologically Fragile Land Act 2011,” said Viswam at a press conference here on Saturday. The CPI leader opined that the government should hire legal experts to safeguard the law. “If the government is not going to put up a good fight, then the state will lose the ownership of the land leased out to private parties. The encroachers have ensured the services of eminent lawyers from outside the state,” said Viswam.
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Form panel to protect Periyar
To protect the Periyar, the lifeline of the state, and maintain its strength and beauty, a river authority should be formed, said E P Yasodharan, chairman, Environment Cell, constituted by the Standing
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Food Safety and Standards Act: Hoteliers object to five conditions
Hoteliers in the state have taken a strong exception to the five conditions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, including the restriction on the chefs from wearing ornaments, as they are “not practical and feasible to the functioning of low and medium level hotels”. The State Food Safety Commissioner had issued a circular the other day with 30 guidelines in the Act after the tragic incident of a youth’s death on July 10 after having ‘shawarma’ from Salwa Cafe in Thiruvananthapuram.
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New parking policy soon
In its effort to decongest the city and prohibit parking on footpath and encroachments especially by street vendors, the Corporation will formulate a parking policy by November. The civic body had already entrusted an agency Civitas Urban Solutions with the preparation of a detailed study report focusing on the parking patterns suitable for the city.
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Centre should provide more aid for rehabilitation of endosulfan victims: Muneer
“It is our responsibility to identify the real endosulfan victims and include them in the list. The relief provided by the government should reach the original victims of the tragedy,” said Minister for Social Welfare M K Muneer. He was speaking after inaugurating the valedictory function of the two-day national workshop CONCORD 2012 (Consultative Workshop on Rehabilitation of Endosulfan Victims and Rejuvenation of Ecosystem) held here on Sunday. The workshop was organised by the district panchayat and National Programme for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disability (NPRPD) to draft a blueprint of rehabilitation and restoration of ecology in the 11 Endosulfan-hit panchayats of the district.
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A dying river crying for attention
During the season of water regattas a river here has almost dried up. The water level in the Varattar which links the Pampa and the Manimalayar has been going down for the past 25 years. Even during the monsoon there is no water flow in the 9.5-kilometre-long river. The sand mining has deepened the river bed level at the originating point near Arattupuzha. Instead of a bridge a short bund was constructed there 30 years ago which prevents the natural flow of water. Moreover, encroachments are rampant on either side of the river. On the encroached part of the river people have planted coconut trees and other plants.
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Provide more facilities to endosulfan victims: Sunita Narain
Sunita Narain, the director of the Centre for Science and Environment, said here on Saturday that the endosulfan victims in the district should be provided with more facilities. She was in the district to attend the National workshop CONCORD 2012. Though appreciated the state government for giving the rightful recognition to the endosulfan issue in the district, Narian reminded the government that there were more to be done.
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Chronic pollution ails Eloor, Edayar
The people of Eloor and Edayar are under trauma as the deaths due to chronic diseases continue. The Kerala High Court had suggested that the construction of polluting industries should not be allowed in the Edayar industrial belt. The court made the suggestion on June 19 while considering a petition filed by Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi. The 450-acre industrial area established in 1962 falls under the Kadungalloor panchayat.
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Mullaperiyar: State to press SC for new dam
Kerala will fight the Empowered Committee report that the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam is safe and continue to press its case for a new dam at a Supreme Court hearing, scheduled to be held on July 23, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Water Resources Minister P J Joseph told the Assembly on Friday. “The empowered committee which concluded that the dam was indeed safe has also proposed a new dam. We have to highlight the positive side and strive to achieve it,” Chandy said.