Trends and News of Kerala

Oomen Chandy seeks Rs.375cr assistance for Endosulfan victims

2011-05-19T22:14:00.000-07:00

Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy sought a Central assistance of Rs. 375 crore to the State for disbursing compensation to the victims of pesticide, Endosulfan. He met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday. He also conveyed that today he will meet Sonia Gandhi to finalise the names of his Congress Cabinet colleague

Elephant Ran Amok

2011-05-19T22:03:00.000-07:00

The tusker Pattambi Ayyappan brought for Elapully Marriyamman Temple Festival ran amok while returning from the temple festival on Thursday morning. Attempt by its two mahouts to bring down it under control failed. After over two hours, the mahouts managed to bring the elephant and control and tethered it to a tree. It was later taken in a lorry from Elappully.

Kerala will disinfect the vehicles comming from Tamil Nadu

2010-02-11T06:36:00.000-08:00

In the view of increasing number of chikungunya and dengue fever cases in Kerala, vehicles coming from Tamil Nadu through Parasala will be disinfected mainly by fogging. Although the rainy days are far away, the increasing number of mosquito is a concern.

Kerala misses Rs.17 crore from tourism Ministry

2010-02-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

After tightening the monitoring norms, tourism ministry has axed funding of projects worth over Rs 17 crore. This was after finding that the projects approved for Kerala on 2003 are still in execution state.

Doormat made in Kerala may go into Guinness Book of World Records

2010-02-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

The CEO of the Cherthala-based Travancore Cocotuft (P) Ltd, P. Mahadevan is very happy that his doormat may find a place in Guinness Book of World Records. The Doormat made of 470,000 coir tuffs measures 101.6 metres in length, 1.2 meters width and 30mm thick. This doormat cost around Rs.4 lakhs and weighs 999kg.

'Thrissur Pooram Pandal' enters Limca Book of World Records

2009-09-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

The 'Thrissur Pooram Pandal' has entered the Limca Book of Records for being the biggest 'Pandal' in the world.

The 90-foot-high 'Pandal' weighing 3.5 tonne, was built by the Thiruvambady Group, one of the main participants in the world famous 'Thrissur Pooram.' The 'pandal,' made mainly of bamboo, was built under the aegis of UAE-based Sun Group Director T A Sunder Menon and adorned with thousands of LEDs imported from different countries.

Talking to reporters here today, Thiruvambady Devaswom President M C S Menon said the speciality of the 'Pandal' was explained to the officials of the 'Limca Book of World Records'.
The record would find a place in the 2010 edition of the book.

The 'Pandal' entered the record books on the basis of its height, number of stairs and exceptional ornamental decoration, he added.

Kerala to get additional 0.4 tmcft water from PAP

2009-09-26T02:32:00.000-07:00

As per todays news report, we understand that Tamil Nadu has agreed to release an additional quantity of 0.4 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) water from the PAP(Parambikulam-Aliyar Project) for the Chitturpuzha irrigation scheme for the second crop paddy cultivation during this water year ending June next. This is in addition to the annual share of 7.25 tmcft water to Kerala for use in the Chitturpuzha scheme as per the PAP agreement.

To Kochi with love from US: rotten food and garbage

2007-10-21T04:38:00.000-07:00

Bobby Jindal’s victory could be a gift for the Indian community there but Kochi could have done without a gift from the US. Three containers of waste from New York meant for a paper making company have been revealed to be nothing more than garbage.

Rotten food, glass and metal waste, computer remains, and even human faeces from New York were shipped halfway across the world to India. The three containers, containing 60 tons of waste, arrived at the Kochi port two weeks ago.

A local paper manufacturing company, Cochin Cadalas, had entered into a deal with the New York municipality to import waste paper. But when the state government heard about the kind of waste being shipped, it decided to step in.

Ernakulam District Collector, Mohammed Haneesh says, “As soon as we came to know about this we went in for a thorough examination of all the three containers and we found it to be filled with waste. The pollution control board and customs have taken serious note of this and we have decided to send this back.”

The government says it will take action against Cochin Cadalas for importing the waste without confirming its nature. Ecologists say such consignments could seriously damage the environment.

Activist Paulose Malari says, “This paper factory which has imported this waste is located very close to Kadampariyar river. Already that place is under stress due to the arrival of smart city. Now if such incidents continue, the eco-system of the place will collapse in no time.”

Sources at the Kochi port say the incident isn't new, and 15 similar containers were sent back from Kochi last year.

Government doctors in Kerala to intensify stir

2007-10-11T23:36:00.000-07:00

Defying government's request to call of the 11-day-old non-cooperation protest, Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) on Thursday said doctors across the state would intensify the stir if their charter of demands, including a pay revision, was not met soon.

"There is no question of going back on our protest. It is upto the government to redress our grievances and solve the crisis," KGMOA district president M Muralidharan told reporters here.

Stating that the doctors should not be blamed if their agitation created hardship to economically backward people who were solely dependent on the health service, he said the onus fell on the government for forcing them to go on protest.

The striking doctors would observe a fast on November 1 in Thiruvananthapuram and the future course of action would be chalked out at KGMOA'S state council meet on November 4, he said.

Muralidharan said the association was, however, confident that the government would not continue to turn a blind eye to the issue.

Stating that the government was showing "undue delay" in meeting their demands, he said, "for more than an year now, the government has been making assurances but not fulfilling them thereby forcing us to take on the agitation path."

Assuring to look into their demands, Health Minister P K Sreemathi had earlier urged the doctors to withdraw their agitation. After the doctors began their non-cooperation stir, the government had threatened of appropriate action against those not attending field work, Sabarimala and VIP duties.

Kerala Assembly adjourns sine die after stormy session

2007-09-20T21:16:00.001-07:00

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept. 21 (PTI): The Kerala Assembly was on Thursday adjourned sine die after a 16-day stormy session, with the Congress-led UDF Opposition raising the banner of protest demanding a comprehensive probe into a land deal to set up ISRO's space institute at Ponmudi near here.

With the adjournment, the four-day-old hunger strike by five UDF MLAs in the foyer of the house was also called off.

The UDF was agitating inside and outside the house, seeking a probe and resignation of Forest Minister Binoy Viswam for his alleged role in facilitating the sale of 81 acres of Ecologically Fragile Land, that forms part of Merchiston Estate owned by realtor Xavie Mano Mathew, to ISRO to set up the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology.

Earlier, Speaker K Radhakrishnan had adjourned the house for an hour after Opposition members stalled proceedings during the question hour.

As the house re-assembled, Opposition leader Oommen Chandy stuck to the demand and accused the government of running away from the probe. "Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan is protecting a corrupt minister," he alleged.

When the protest continued, the Speaker took up the legislative businesses and the house passed without discussing three bills, including the Small Plantation Worker's Welfare Fund Bill, 2007.

Achuthanandan had yesterday expressed the state government's reservations in ordering a probe into the land deal between a private individual and ISRO, which is under direct control of the Prime Minister, and asked the Opposition to approach the Centre if they had any complaint.

Kerala starts year-long study on tourism impact

2007-09-20T21:14:00.000-07:00

Kerala Tourism (KT) has launched a year-long study to find out the impact of tourism on ecology and infrastructure. The study comes in the wake of its initiative to promote eco-tourism in a big way.

The Responsible Tourism (RT) initiative is being implemented on a pilot basis in four destinations -- Kovalam, Kumarakom, Thekkady and Wayanad.

"The state is also set to host the second international conference on responsible tourism in association with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT), India," Venu V, secretary, Kerala Tourism, said.

After promoting south Kerala as a tourist destination, KT is now focussing on north Kerala. Branded Wake Up to Malabar, KT is planning to promote the Malabar region comprising Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasargod. "South Kerala has matured as a tourist destination. So, we are now looking at north Kerala," added Venu.

KT has also launched an e-research initiative, Synergy Quest, aimed at collecting feedback from the toursim trade across the world to fine-tune marketing strategies to ensure that every promotional venture gave returns.

"Such initiatives have ensured that the state recorded a 25.89% increase during the first quarter this year over the corresponding quarter in the previous year in foreign tourist arrivals. Domestic tourist arrivals increased 7.95%," Sanjay Kaul, director, Kerala Tourism, said.

Dream of a 'Silicon Coast' in Kerala

2007-06-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: They are fresh from college but not desperate for a job!

Eight engineering graduates from this state, known better for its thriving tourism industry, are looking to give jobs to people in their IT startup that is already being valued at around USD seven million.

This team of graduates, which actually shaped its destiny by setting up 'Torque' to provide IT solutions across verticals, now dreams of turning Kerala into the 'Silicon Coast' of India.

"I come from a middle class family. I don't have a big family tag to my name. The state has given me a good education. And, now I think, I have to pay (it) back," Torque CEO Sanjay Vijayakumar told media on asked about the inspiration behind the venture created a year before they left campus.
Obviously, the team also drew inspiration from Stanford University graduates, who helped the Silicon Valley in the US to become the metonymy for world hightech ventures.

Their brainchild Torque has in a short time grown into a pioneering technology business incubated company being currently valued at $5-7 million based in Technopark here.

"Our initial cash investment was Rs eight lakh raised by eight of us while we were in college some 18 months back," Vijayakumar said.
Besides Vijayakumar, the core group included Kenni Joseph, now Torque's Chief Technology Officer, Sony Joy Chief Operating Officer and Anil K Antony, son of Defence Minister A K Antony.

Torque is looking for a venture capital of Rs 700-800 crore to set up a Mobile Hub Technology centre - "Dawn of Silicon Coast" - in Kerala and met President A P J Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, much to the appreciation of India's first citizen.

"It was a memorable experience. We were actually given 20 minutes but the interaction went on for 45 minutes. Dr Kalam said that it was for the first time that a group of students had come with a dream of becoming job-creators rather than job-seekers," Sanjay said.

The 'dream project' aims at promoting a hundred startups by acting as a catalyst to promote student entrepreneurship's in the country.
"Our philosophy is to be innovative, adaptive and effective. There is no dream that could not be materialised through hardwork based on this philosophy," Sanjay added.

Torque's focus, so far, has been on mobile value added services. Some of its products like FastAlert, a multi-modal communication tool integrating SMS, e-mails and voice alerts into an intuitive and user-friendly online interface, have been well received.

"We have had enquirers on this from the US and UK on this," said Sanjay.
Another Torque product is MobShare, positioned as India- specific Youtube and Orkut, which enables interaction through MMS blogging and SMS alert.
BlueMessenger, another product, is a bluetooth enabled kiosk creating distant Blue Zones where users could receive ad promotion, download content, interact and chat with users in Blue Zones around the world.

Kerala Tourism website offers attractive packages for travellers

2007-05-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

With a first-of-its-kind initiative called Dream Season, Kerala Tourism has taken steps to convert the traditional off-season in the State to a season of opportunity for the holidaymaker. The initiative offers a host of packages at never-before rates for a period of five months starting May 2007.

With regard to the rates of tour packages by various stakeholders, the listings show rates as low as Rs.2400 (US $ 59) for one night and two days packages offered by hotels and Rs.4500 (US $ 110) in the case of resorts for a package of two nights and three days. Homestays have come up offers of Rs.500 (US $ 13) per day and houseboats for Rs.5000 (US $ 123) for a night for two persons. Ayurveda centres and hotels are the other two groups that have responded with maximum number of packages after resorts and tour operators.

Dream Season is the latest project under Synergy, Kerala Tourism’s highly acclaimed and successful public-private partnership programme. “The campaign stemmed from the concern that despite impressive growth rates, Kerala was still a seasonal destination - an unparalleled wealth of attractions and a year-round moderate climate, notwithstanding. And this innovative marketing initiative will go a long way in sustaining the growth rates and transforming Kerala into a land for all seasons,” said Dr. Venu V., Secretary, Kerala Tourism. Extending from April to September, the campaign spans the summer, monsoon and festival seasons of the State.
An exclusive micro-site for Dream Season Packages, www.keralatourism.org/dreamseason/ was launched as part of the initiative. It was quite an overwhelming response from tour operators, hoteliers etc., who submitted 135 packages till this date. Nearly 6000 travellers visited the site within first three weeks.

Those interested in spending their holidays during the Dream Season period may visit the micro-site and pick holiday packages of their choice offered by hoteliers, tour operators, houseboat operators etc.

Etihad Airways starts flights to Kerala

2007-05-30T09:30:00.000-07:00

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) started its thrice a week service from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram Wednesday.

Etihad will fly from Abu Dhabi to Thiruvananthapuram every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The flights form part of a major expansion programme of the airline in the Indian market, which includes making its New Delhi flights a daily service from Wednesday and the launch of flights to Kochi next week.

The new services will bring Etihad's India operations from 10 flights to 21 per week, which will increase to 28 flights per week in October with daily service from Abu Dhabi to Kochi and to Thiruvananthapuram.

Geert W. Boven, executive vice president of sales and services of Etihad Airways said, "There is a huge demand for flights to Kerala from our customers across the world, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom."

Launch prices for Etihad's flights to Thiruvananthapuram start from Rs. 13,860 for return economy class, Rs. 27,060 for business class and Rs. 43,450 for first class.

Kerala flights signal big India plans for Etihad

2007-05-24T02:14:00.000-07:00

UAE's national carrier Etihad Airways, which is starting flights to two Kerala cities next week, is set to expand further in the Indian market if it gets government approval, a senior official said.
Etihad Executive Vice President (Sales and Services) Geert Boven said Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad were all "in the airline's sight," as the carrier prepares to launch flights on May 30 to Thiruvananthapuram and June 2 to Kochi.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline in March held talks with Indian authorities over new air rights, which resulted in the Kerala routes to offer 21 flights per week from Abu Dhabi to India.
"There are more than one million Indian citizens living in the UAE who are eager to enjoy greater air links. I do hope that the two countries' governments can reach agreement for even more non-stop flights to help satisfy consumer demand," Boven said.

UAE is India's most dominant trading partner in the West Asia North Africa region and represents 70 per cent of the country's export to Gulf Cooperative Council countries. Currently, there are 3,300 Indian companies operating in the UAE. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at over AED 48 billion.

As the air travel between India and UAE increases, Etihad will look to boost its services and become the leading airline in this exciting and crucial sector, Boven said.

The new three flights-per-week service to Thiruvananthapuram and four flights-per-week service to Kochi will join Etihad's established flights to Mumbai and New Delhi, with flights to the Indian capital going daily from May 31.

NRI Deposits Grow To Rs.85 Bn In Kerala Bank

2007-05-24T02:12:00.000-07:00

NRI deposits in Kerala's State Bank of Travancore (SBT) have grown by 9.14 percent to touch Rs.85.95 billion ($2 billion) in the last fiscal.

Total deposits have also grown from Rs.259.97 billion in 2005-06 to Rs.309.84 billion in 2006-07 and total business currently stood at Rs.560 billion, Chairman and Managing Director K. Sitaraman told reporters Thursday.

Net profit of the bank has grown from Rs.2.5 billion to Rs.3.2 billion, he said.

SBT, which has 704 branches including 572 in Kerala, is a major player in the NRI market and has rupee drawing arrangements with 20 exchange houses in the Middle East.

Kerala Expects Rs.15 Bn Tourism Investment This Year

2007-05-22T04:53:00.000-07:00

Kerala's tourism industry is expecting an investment of Rs. 15 billion in the current fiscal, despite the ongoing demolition drive against illegal encroachments in the hill station of Munnar, State Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Tuesday.

'In the past one year, the tourism sector attracted nearly Rs.10 billion worth of investments and we expect Rs.15 billion this fiscal. Likewise, we expect a 20 percent increase in foreign tourists and domestic tourism is likely to grow by 10 percent,' Balakrishnan to reporters here.
The minister reiterated that the ongoing demolition drive in Munnar would soon be extended to other parts of Kerala too.

'We are very clear that all government land that has been encroached upon across the state would be taken back. We have asked the tourism department to prepare a list of encroachments made at all tourist destinations in the state,' Balakrishnan.

He said the government would soon decide a master plan for Munnar - one that would be environmentally safe.

'We will also revamp the existing Tourism Resorts Kerala Ltd and make it a company that would look into the development of tourism infrastructure and investments in this sector,' Balakrishnan added.

Infosys to invest Rs 3.06 billion

2007-05-22T04:48:00.000-07:00

Infosys Technologies co-founder and Board member K Dinesh has said that the company is planning to invest Rs 3.06 billion in the state-of-the-art campus near the Technopark here, which will create 8,000 jobs over the next few years.

He was speaking after Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan performed the stone-laying ceremony for the development centre here on Saturday.

Infosys, operating out of a leased facility in Technopark since 2004, will now have two full-fledged operations here on completion of the new facility.

Chief Minister Achuthanandan said: ‘‘Kerala is emerging as a key IT destination in south India. Infosys ramping up its presence in Technopark is a reaffirmation of this fact. The magnitude of Infosys’ investment in its development centre demonstrates its long-term commitment towards Kerala and speaks volumes about the world-class facilities on offer here for its employees.’’
The Chief Minister, who announced all support to the IT companies in the state, said that the government would not hesitate to recoup the land allotted to IT companies, if they fail to set up facility centres in a time-bound manner.

Technopark CEO N. Radhakrishnan Nair said that the commencement of work on Infosys Software Development Centre marked the take off of Technopark to a new trajectory, considering the infrastructure problems and the social tensions in traditional Tier-1 Information Technology locations.

The present Infosys facility in Technopark campus has a capacity to seat 1,100 employees with an investment of Rs. 300 million. This development centre has a world-class work environment designed to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Infosys has also leased 40,000 sq. ft. of space in the Thejaswini Block at Technopark for expansion.

Kerala ‘can grow 10 times faster’

2007-04-07T09:35:00.000-07:00

Kerala can grow at least ten times faster than the current pace if it combines economic reforms with the advances it had already made in human development, according to Dr Vinod Thomas, the World Bank’s Director General-Evaluation.

The short-term benefits of such a developmental strategy would start becoming visible within the next three to five years itself, as the State is now ready to reap the gains of the heavy investments it had made in the past in human development, he said here.

The State must focus on the new generation industries such as information technology, biotechnology and other knowledge-based industries as well as eco-tourism and tertiary education sector.

The world has changed much in the recent periods, and you can drastically accelerate the growth rate if you concentrate on such industries because the demand for them is not only from within, but from across the globe, he said adding Kerala economy was propped up by $5.5bn annual remittances from 3.5mn Keralites working abroad. At present, very little of it comes to productive investments and much of it was contributing to consumption and property purchase in the State.

The government must take proactive steps such as providing better incentives to transform the remittances into productive investments while strengthening the financial infrastructure to smoothen the flow of the remittances into productive investment avenues.

Meanwhile, the state last week received the first tranche of the Asian Development Bank assistance for the $336mn project for improving urban infrastructure.

The Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project targets urban infrastructure development in five cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Kollam, Kozhikode and Thrissur.

Besides, the ADB loan, it will be backed by $59.8mn as contribution from State government and $35.1mn from the five beneficiary civic bodies themselves..

Kerala man all set for space voyage

2007-03-17T02:57:00.000-07:00

Kerala's Santosh George Kulangara will become the first Indian tourist to space when he takes his two-hour space flight organised by Global space tour operator Virgin Galactic.

The 35-year old traveler from Kerala state owns a small publishing company near the city of Kottayam.

"I am really excited not only because I'll be the first space tourist but the first journalist to go to space," Kulangara said. "I can show my people in India what Earth looks like, experience of travel, preparation and re-entry to Earth".

Santosh George found out about the tour through the internet. The process began with a web application to the space tour operator.

Kulangara will travel to Paris where a meeting of the voyagers is slated for May 10.

Kulangara has visited 50 countries and he is doing a popular television programme called Sancharam.

Two US-based Indian Americans have also signed up for the flight.

Pongala oven burning chokes Kerala’s capital

2007-03-03T20:56:00.000-08:00

This capital city of Kerala came under an umbrella of smoke belching out from hundreds of thousands firewood burning ovens that were lit to cook the pongal feast.

Over two-and-a-half million women lined up yesterday on the streets leading to the famous Attukal Bhagavathi temple in the capital city of Kerala, cooking an offering of rice around the temple premises.

The event takes place on the penultimate day of the 10-day long pongala festival and is a local holiday in the district.

Attukal Bhagavathi is believed to be an incarnation of Kannaki and is referred to in the Tamil epic “Silappathikaram”.

Also referred to as the Sabarimala for women, the Attukal pongala attracts not just Hindu women but foreign women as well.

The unprecedented rush for the pongala festival began a few years back after the “Guinness Book of World Records” listed it as the only event where over a million women get together to take part in the festivities.

“Since then, the numbers have been increasing every year. This year we were expecting two million devotees, but more than 2.5 million women arrived here,” said Attukal temple secretary K.P.Ramachandran Nair.

Women who arrive at least two days before pongala day manage to get their cooking place near the temple, while latecomers line up for miles to offer pongala. This year the queue stretched to almost 15 square kilometers in and around the temple.

Women arrive with bricks, firewood and raw materials including rice, jaggery and coconut. They light their ovens from the fire provided by the chief priest of the temple after he lights the oven in the temple compound at 10.45 a.m.

According to the legend, after destroying Madurai in Tamil Nadu, Kannaki travelled to Kerala, where she rested for a while at Attukal. Women are said to have cooked pongala to appease Kannaki.

Shyamala Kumari, a housewife from Kollam, said, “This is the first time I am visiting the temple for the festival and I am having a great time. My relatives have told me that the goddess is very powerful and fulfills all your wishes.”

Kozhikode to be Kerala's next IT destination

2007-01-26T07:53:00.000-08:00

Six high profile institutions in Kerala have come together to ensure that this north Kerala city becomes the next big IT destination in the state after Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.

The core group working towards a cyber park in Kozhikode consists of the Malabar Chamber of Commerce (MCC), Indian Institute of Management-Kozhikode (IIM-K), National Institute of Technology (formerly Regional Engineering College-Kozhikode), Kerala Builders Forum, the IT Forum of Kozhikode and the Calicut Management Association.

The project has the backing of the state government, said P. Zakeer, MCC president and secretary of the Calicut IT initiative (CITI).

'We had a full-fledged discussion with the special IT team of the government led by IT secretary K. Jyothilal. Things are on the right track. The government is fully convinced that Kozhikode has the potential to become Kerala's latest IT destination,' Zakeer told IANS.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, who handles the IT portfolio, last week came out with a draft IT policy and also stressed that the district would be promoted in a big way and infrastructure developed too.

Leading IT companies operating from IT hubs Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram and Infopark at Kochi have also expressed their support for the venture.

'IBS, US Technology and NeST have all assured us that they would be the first to set up operations as and when Cyber Park becomes a reality,' said Zakeer.

'We are now looking for a 100 acre plot of land, hopefully near the airport. Since the state industries minister (Elamaram Karim) hails from Kozhikode, we are certain that things will move in the right direction and at a faster pace.'

Also boosting chances of the project seeing light of day are the large number of NRIs from Kozhikode who would be only too willing to chip in with funds to ensure speedy take off.

Kerala literary critic turns down Padma Shri

2007-01-26T07:41:00.000-08:00

Noted Kerala literary critic and political commentator Sukumar Azhikode has turned down the Padma Shri, terming the awards are unconstitutional.

"According to the constitution, no citizen should be awarded because it leads to discrimination. This is not like a literary award," said the 75-year-old writer and speaker, known for his razor sharp tongue and views.

However, former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas, who has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, said the apex court has ruled that these awards should not be used as a title.

"Because of that I will not use this award alongside my name," said Thomas.

Amongst the other awardees from Kerala are dramatist Kavalam Narayana Panicker who got the Padma Bhushan. Master weaver P Gopinathan has got the Padma Shri.

Lalu Prasad announces `Garib Rath' to Kerala

2006-12-30T18:53:00.000-08:00

`Garib Rath,' a fully air-conditioned train which will make journey between Thiruvananthapuram and New Delhi possible for Rs.600, will start service within two months, Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has said.

He said this after commissioning of the electrification of the Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram line and laying the foundation stone for the Kochuveli second terminal in the city on Saturday. He also laid the foundation stone for the modernisation of the Thiruvananthapuram Central station.

The Minister said `Garib Rath'-type services would be launched from all State capitals to New Delhi. The fare would range between Rs.550 and Rs.600 and it would take two months to get sufficient number of coaches, he said.

Sanction would be accorded for electrification of Thiruvananthapuram-

Kanyakumari and Thrissur-Guruvayur lines. The central station would be developed with world-class facilities. Accent was being given on developing passenger amenities. Scarcity of land was the main reason for the delay in executing new projects in the State. He asked Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Minister in charge of Railways M. Vijayakumar to sort out all developmental issues with senior railway officials.

In a bid to secure fair price to farmers, the railways would provide container services and also facilities to sell their produce. This would help to generate more jobs. He reiterated that the railways would not be privatised.

Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu allayed fears over the bifurcation of the Palakkad division. This would help increase the efficiency and make the division a compact unit. The offices in the Palakkad division would not be closed. Mr. Vijayakumar said the Government would submit pre-budget and long-term proposals for railway development to the Minister.

Mr. Achuthanandan urged Mr. Prasad to accord sanction for setting up a coach repairing factory at Nemom, suburban services in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode and new services to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore among other things. Kerala was yet to figure significantly in the railway map, he said.

Southern Railway general manager Thomas Varghese welcomed. R. Mohan Doss, general manager, CORE; Ramesh Chandra, member, electrical, Railway Board; district panchayat president Anavoor Nagappan; V. Sivankutty, MLA; Varkala Radhakrishnan, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, Panniyan Ravindran and Varkala Radhakrishnan, all MPs; and Mayor C. Jayan Babu offered felicitations. Thiruvananthapuram divisional manager S. Vijayakumaran proposed a vote of thanks.

BSNL aiming at wider broadband connectivity: CMD

2006-12-30T18:50:00.000-08:00

Aiming to widen its broadband map, the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited will be adding five million Port capacity to its existing network of one million with plans to extend the service from 600 cities to more than 1,000.

Apart from the broadband connectivity, the BSNL would also provide two crore mobile connections each in the next three years, BSNL chairman and managing director a K Sinha, who was here, told a press conference.

Sinha said of the five million broadband connections, 1.84 million would be provided in rural areas.

Pointing out the BSNL wanted to make broadband services more affordable, he said the downloading limits under home 250 and business 700 plans would be enhanced to one GB and four GB from 400 MB and two GB respectively from next year.

This would mean that a plan 250 customer would get a benefit of Rs 840 per month and the business 700 plan customer would benefit up to Rs 2,400 a month.

The broadband speed would be increased from 256 KBPS (Kilobits Per Second) to up to two MBPS (Megabits Per Second) at the existing tariff of Rs 250 per month, from next year, thus upgrading all its 8.2 lakh broadband users.

In addition, the free download limit will be enhanced from 0.4 gigabyte to 1 gigabyte and the rates for further downloads have been decreased from Rs 1.40 per megabyte to 90 paise.

Sinha said all the grama panchayats would have broadband coverage by 2008.

All secondary and higher secondary schools and public health centres would come under broadband coverage by the end of next year.

He also said the BSNL was in the process of launching broadband access through Wimx technology in about 1,000 block headquarters.

Apart from this, Sinha said the BSNL would start online gaming services over broadband very soon besides launching location based services in GSM segment.

In an attempt to connect the whole of India, digital satellite network would be made use of in villages where even wireless connectivity could not reach. About 14,000 villages would come under this plan.

Meanwhile the Kerala telecom circle on Saturday introduced Personalised Ring Back Tone (PRBT) facility for post-paid customers of the state on Saturday.

The Kerala circle also introduced missed call alert service by which a customer could get the information about incoming calls whenever the mobile is switched off.

Chief general manager of Kerala circle, S A Thomas, who would be retiring on Sunday from service, was also present.

Saddam village in Kerala in mourning

2006-12-30T09:46:00.000-08:00

Saddam Hussein is dead and gone forever. But for the people of a village, now known as Saddam Beach in Kerala, the deposed Iraqi leader has always been revered as a hero.

The people of "Saddam Beach" village near Malappuram staged a protest and shouted anti-US slogans to condemn the execution of Saddam.

"The news came as a shock for the fishing hamlet of about 500 families, though it has been in the air since yesterday evening. The protests that followed were spontaneous," a resident of the village, Kadavath Saidalvi, was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

The village, originally known as Puthan Kadappuram, came to be called Saddam Beach after some youths put up a signboard bearing their hero's name at a ramshackle bus shelter in the area in 1992, shortly after the Kuwait War.

Overcoming their initial shock, people came out of their homes, put up black flags on the beach and voluntarily lined up to take out a march.

Some of those who had put out to sea quite early in the morning returned to shore when they learnt that Saddam had been sent to the gallows.

The Iraqi leader was regarded as an icon in the hamlet and there are at least 60 boys named Saddam in the area, a local journalist Ahammadunni was quoted by PTI as saing.

Even today, the villagers here don't buy or use American products. Coca-Cola, Pepsi and chocolates are all a strict no no for them.

All this has made the beach village so popular that even the government documents recognise the name now.

Keltron joins hands with SAP India

2006-12-30T09:35:00.000-08:00

The Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (Keltron) has signed an agreement with SAP India to address the automation needs of PSUs as well as put the e-governance initiative of the state government in top gear, reports Business Line.

The agreement outlines plans for co-operation on various enterprise applications including ERP, human resources, finance, portal and collaboration applications.

According to Mr Alan Sedghi, president and CEO, SAP, Indian sub-continent, public sector institutions are leveraging IT more than ever to quickly adapt to and support the challenges of shrinking budgets and increasing expectations for better service delivery and transparency.

Kerala seeks to improve public hygiene

2006-12-19T18:33:00.000-08:00

The Kerala government has adopted a new step to improve public hygiene.

It has issued an order following another High Court directive asking people to refrain from spitting or blowing their nose in public.

Moreover, the order says that one can't even sneeze or cough in public without covering one's face. Strangely, it needed a government order to make people understand this.

In fact, people still continue to smoke at public places like bus-stops in Thiruvananthapuram, openly violating a ban imposed on smoking in public places by the Kerala High Court in 1999.

The government order also has its opponents - among them is 67-year-old watchman Karunakaran.

"Suppose a 70-80 year old man develops coughing and he has to spit. Where will he go? You can't walk with the phlegm in the mouth. It is not practical," said Karunakaran, Watchman.

However, there are also those who support the order.

"Sometimes one feels that certain court orders are out of touch with reality. But this is necessary. In public places such behaviour is unacceptable," said Paloli Mohammed Kutty, Local Self-Government Minister.

The rationale is that public hygiene is as important as personal hygiene.

To implement the order, the government will provide spittoons in all public places, install boards and banners asking people to desist from such behaviour, place advertisements in the media and start sensitizing schoolchildren.

"We should start with children. That will also help in making the parents conscious of civic sense," said Paloli Mohammed Kutty, Local-Self Government Minister.

While the government is fully aware of the practical difficulties involved in implementing such a decision, it is at least attempt to impart some kind of basic civic sense to the man on the street.

Kerala woman represents India at SAARC IT workshop

2006-12-19T18:31:00.000-08:00

A woman from Kerala working in the Karnataka telecom department is representing India at a three-day IT workshop organised by the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) in Islamabad.

Geetha Paul, comptroller of communication accounts, Department of Telecom Karnataka Circle, left for Islamabad on Monday to represent India at the international workshop on 'Access to Information and Intellectual Property Rights Issues' that began Tuesday.

The workshop is organised by SAARC Documentation Centre. A 1980 batch civil servant, Paul hails from Kerala's Kottayam district.

Security tightened in Kerala in view of President's visit

2006-12-17T19:31:00.000-08:00

Security has been tightened in Kerala in view of the two-day visit of President A P J Abdul Kalam from December 19, with about 7,000 police personnel being deployed for security.

A high-level meeting of top police officials chaired by DGP Ramon Sreevastava was held here today and discussed the security arrangements during Kalam's visit.

In Kochi, where Kalam will attend two functions, at least 1,500 police personnel have been deployed, DIG Revada Chandrasekhar told PTI.

The President is scheduled to attend various functions at Thrissur, Chalakkudi and Kollam before he leaves for Delhi on December 20.

The Coast Guard and police patrol boats will be keeping the coastal structures near Kochi under surveillance.

“Fireworks Wednesday” lights up Kerala

2006-12-16T09:04:00.000-08:00

The Iranian family drama “Fireworks Wednesday” (2006) won the Best Film Award of the 11th International Film Festival of Kerala at the closing ceremony of the Indian gala on Friday evening.

Also known as “Chaharshanbeh-Suri”, the movie is about a family in which the wife doubts her husband’s loyalty. Everything seems to indicate that the wife suffers from melancholia, but things turn out differently.

Starring Iranian superstar Hedyeh Tehrani along with Hamid Farrokhnejad and Taraneh Alidusti, "Chaharshanbeh-Suri" was awarded Crystal Simorghs for best director, best editing, and best actress at the 24th Fajr International Film Festival. The film also won the audience favorite award at the festival, which was held in Tehran in late January.

In addition, the movie won the Best Film Gold Hugo of the 42nd Chicago International Film Festival and the Junior Jury 3rd Prize of the 59th Locarno International Film Festival.

“Full or Empty”, “The Gaze”, “Cease-Fire”, “It’s Winter”, “Offside”, “Scream of the Ants”, and “From Afar” were the other Iranian films that competed in the Kerala festival.

Several Iranian films by prominent filmmakers such as Abbas Kiarostami, Bahman Farmanara, Sohrab Shahid-Sales, Dariush Mehrjuii, and Amir Naderi were also screened in the festival’s Early Iranian Cinema section.

Kerala, Red Hat ready for free software tango

2006-12-14T17:41:00.000-08:00

Linux and open source software provider Red Hat appears to have found a strong ally in Kerala chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan in promoting the free software concept. A three-member team from the open source major met the CM here on Wednesday and has got the CM’s nod to work together with the state government in the coming days.

Kerala IT Mission director K.R. Jyothilal told ET that it was likely that Red Hat would set up a state centre, either at the Technopark here or in Kochi, though a final word on the matter is awaited.

The three-man Red Hat team was led by Nandu Pradhan, president and managing director of Red Hat India, and included Bhaskar Varma and Venkatesh Hariharan.

Mr Achuthanandan has been an avid supporter of open source software and the state government has a game plan to have free software usage across the board for school education in the state.

Mr Jyothilal said Red Hat and the state IT Mission officials had discussed possibilities like faculty training, introduction of low-cost PC with Linux and Red Hat certification programmes in the state. Red Hat’s global training program operates in about 60 centres worldwide, featuring RHCE, the global standard Linux certification.

According to estimates there are about 15 lakh students in the 2,600-odd government and government-aided high schools in the state, who will have the option to make use of open source software for computer education.

Free software is presently used in computer teaching in Classes 8 and 9 and there are plans to extend it to Class 10 next year. Recently, when free software guru Richard Stallman visited the state, he had expressed happiness that Kerala had seriously embraced free software

NHRC notice to Kerala

2006-12-12T18:06:00.000-08:00

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent notices to the Kerala Government, following a news report that five HIV-positive children were thrown out of school in Kottayam.

Taking suo motu cognisance of the report, the Commission said it raised a serious issue of violation of human rights. The news item said theaction against the children, in the age group 4-10, was taken after parents of other pupils threatened to pull out their wards because of the stigma attached to HIV.

The Commission asked the Secretaries of Health and General Education to look into the matter and send a factual report in two weeks.

All-Kerala Carnatic Music Contest

2006-12-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

The All-Kerala Carnatic Music Contest, conducted by Sree Poornathrayeesa Sangeetha Sabha for Augustine Joseph Memorial Award and other endowment awards, will be held on January 7 at Kalikkotta Palace.

The contest will be conducted in two sessions - Junior (below 14 years) and Senior (between 14 and 20 years). Separate competitions will be held for boys and girls. The school or college which bags the maximum number of points will be awarded the Augustine Joseph Memorial Ever-Rolling Trophy.

The contestant who scores the highest marks will be awarded special prizes instituted by celebrated singer K J Yesudas in the name of Augustine Joseph. The winners will also get cash awards. Those who had bagged the awards in the previous years are not eligible for contesting in the competitions.

Interested candidates should submit their filled in application forms on white paper, together with the certificate showing their age, from the respective colleges and schools.

The address is: Secretary, Sree Poornathrayeesa Sangeetha Sabha, C/o Karakulathu House, Vaikom Road, Tripunithura-682301, before December 21.

Kerala film industry for ban on Riyan studio

2006-12-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

The Kerala film industry has decided to boycott Riyan studio in Kochi, which is being probed for video piracy.

Honchos of various organisations, including Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (Amma), Malayalam Cine Technicians Association (Macta) and Kerala Film Chamber, said the boycott would remain in force until the studio was out of the clouds.

Superstar Mamootty said the meeting had decided to stage protest rallies from one end of the state to the other immediately to focus on the threat posed by video piracy, undermining the very survival of the film industry. One of the drawbacks in the fight against audio-video piracy was the absence of stringent provisions to incriminate racketeers. All activities associated with piracy should be brought under the purview of the proposed Goonda Act, said Mamootty.

The meeting lauded Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan for his bold stand, especially his taking up cudgels on behalf of Inspector General Rishiraj Singh, the anti-piracy nodal officer, who was prevented from raiding Riyan Studio, owned by Anita Thachankary, wife of IG Tomin Thachankary. Although it was a rare show of unity by the industry at the meeting in Kochi, there were a few discordant voices, wondering whether the meeting had decided on the boycott.

Film Chamber leader Seyad Kokker clarified that there was no ambiguity in the decision to boycott Riyan Studio. He demanded that Tomin Thachankary be relieved of his duties during the course of the investigation.

Anita Thachankary approached Kerala High Court to intervene and prevent the police from harassing her and her staff and allow her to complete the studio’s contractual obligations with its clients.

The court ordered notice to Rishiraj Singh and the Kochi police chief to submit their response to allegations leveled by the petitioner.

Meanwhile, even the high-tech cell of the State police has drawn a blank in its efforts to find anything incriminating at the studio. Studio gadgets were too sophisticated, leaving the high-tech team clueless on what precisely transpired at the studio. Rishiraj Singh had anticipated this and arranged for experts from Mumbai before launching the raid. But the state police chief, Raman Srivastava, shunted out Rishiraj Singh in the midst of the raid on Thursday evening, throwing a spanner into the works. By the time the Chief Minister intervened and the police resumed raids all over the state, the team lost precious time, lending the studio authorities a privileged interval to whatever it wanted.

However, the heat is on the studio. Achuthanandan said the other day in Palakkad: Let no one think that such deliberate roadblocks would dissuade me from my commitment to ensure a free and fair administration.

Kerala’s eating sensation takes his last bow

2006-12-10T08:07:00.000-08:00

Kerala’s eating sensation K P Rappai died of obesity-related ailments at a private hospital in the central Thrissur district of Kerala yesterday morning. He was 67. A victim of hypothalamus dysfunction that triggers an insatiate urge for food, the 140kg Rappai, clad in white dhoti and slack kakhi shirt, ambling along roads with a sachet of errand items, was a mobile landmark of Thrissur. Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoonkuzhy offered funeral prayers at the residence of Rappai before a large procession of mourners accompanied the body to the local Lourde’s Church for burial.

Rappai, a bachelor, had been living with his mother, Thandamma, at a small house in Thrissur. He was admitted to hospital about a week back and was shifted to the ICU after his diabetes and blood pressure shot up.

Rappai was hospitalised in July when the doctors warned him that unless he cut down on the food, he would encounter serious health problems. At hospital, his intake had come down from one hundred idlis to a just dozen, from two buckets full of rice to a plateful.

For the past six months, he has been on a normal diet, though frugal by his standards.

Kizhakkumpattukara Painadanveettil Rappai’s first and unbeaten record was 700 idlis at an eating contest in Kasargod in 1997. His exploits on the table are unending. He once inaugurated a bakery at Kochi eating five kilos of ‘halwa’ and 50 idlis besides drinking enormous amount of water.

He had also lunched a club at Palakkad eating 50 baked bananas and 50 laddus. On both the occasions, he was given Rs10,000 in cash as prize.

In December 2001, at Chalakudy in Thrissur, he ate a bunch of bananas, drank 35 glasses of Horlicks and earned Rs15,000 in cash inaugurating a restaurant. With the small sums he got as rewards, he married off three sisters and set off debts. But smalltime hoteliers in Thrissur lived in mortal fear of the monster eater. His debut was at a hotel in Thrissur, some 40 years back, when he took a full meal coupon and downed three basins of rice, three buckets of meat, and one bucket of fish curry. He went on indulging his appetite that the hotel owner had to call in the police.

If the hoteliers suffered from Rappai-phobia, there were many who would sponsor all-you-can-eat buffet contests mainly for the thrill of seeing Rappai in action. He had his friends in the police.

His trademark slack kakhi shirts were used ones gifted to him by police officers.

Heavy turnout in Kerala by-election

2006-12-05T04:45:00.000-08:00

More than 80% voters turned up to vote in the Thiruvambady assembly by-election which is considered the first litmus test for the six-month-old Left Democratic Front government in Kerala.

The main rivals, LDF’s George M Thomas and the United Democratic Front’s V M Ummer Master exuded confidence.

The polling was peaceful. Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy also expressed satisfaction over the conduct of "free and fair election". Digital cameras installed in all booths recorded the proceedings.

The polling was held under heavy security, with the deployment of five companies of the Central Reserve Police Force, four battalions of the Armed Reserve Police and one battalion of the Malabar Special Police. The counting will begin at 8am on Thursday.

The LDF had won the seat in May for the second time since the constituency was formed in 1977. The election was necessitated after the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Mathai Chacko died in October.

Also in the fray are Bharatiya Janata Party’s Gireesh Thevally and three independents. The stakes are high for both the LDF led by the CPM and the Congress-led UDF.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala fight ad war on Mullaperiyar dam

2006-12-05T04:44:00.000-08:00

After the Centre-mediated talks between the chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala on the Mullaperiyar dam issue went amiss, the states have now taken the row to the public forum through newspaper advertisements.

The two states have been fighting over the water level in Mullaperiyar dam in Kerala’s Idukki district, but administered by Tamil Nadu, following an agreement between Madras Presidency and the Travancore state in 1886.

Tamil Nadu, which gets the diverted Mullaperiyar waters to irrigate its southern districts, wants to increase the storage level to 142 feet, while Kerala says it would damage the dam, putting at risk 35 lakh people living downstream.

Even as the Supreme Court has asked the two states to settle the dispute through talks, Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi initiated the new campaign on Saturday, releasing half-page advertisements in English, Tamil and Malayalam newspapers in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

With excerpts from his speech at the chief ministers’ meet in Delhi, the copy strikes a cordial note, extolling the camaraderie the people of the two states have historically shared. But it maintains that Tamil Nadu will not go back on its demand to raise the water level.

He also questioned Kerala’s concern over the safety of the dam. “The dam has been designed to withstand the effect of earthquakes anticipated… we are not doing any justice by thrusting an opinion in the minds of the public that the dam may burst if water level is raised to 142 ft. No gravity dam has ever burst…,” the message beneath the picture of a beaming Karunanidhi read.

Kerala chief minister V S Achudanandan retorted the very next day with similar advertisements arguing the safety points. “We wish to convey the grave threat that is being faced by the 35-lakh people in Kerala… This 111-year-old lime and surkhi is unsafe for the people living downstream,” the advertisement read.

Houseboats, backwaters becoming 'USP' of Kerala's tourism industry

2006-12-03T17:33:00.000-08:00

Kerala's houseboats, lakes and backwaters are once again posing to be the ultimate brand ambassadors of the state's tourism industry by generating huge foreign exchange and employment.

The popularity of houseboats has returned as major tourist attractions in the state. Many find these beautiful flotels as an ideal means of exploring the beauty of the Kerala backwaters.

The number of houseboats in the Alleppey and Kottayam backwaters has increased drastically. In Alleppey alone it has increased from just 150 odd one to more than 350 in two to three years.

Houseboats or Kettu-vallams, which were once used in Kerala waterways for transporting goods from once place to another famous as rice boats, have now changed as the most wanted tourist attraction not only for domestic tourists but also for the foreigners who never miss a chance to take a 24-hour timeout in the backwaters of Kerala.

With these years tourist season remaining there from November till March, the houseboat operators and travel agents are well prepared and are looking forward for a good volume of tourists from various countries to book their houseboats and hope it will be much more than the last year.

Kerala tourism is aiming at a 20 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals this season, while in the domestic tourists, an increase by five percent are expected this season.

Tourism that has emerged as a major sector in the State provides employment to over one million people in Kerala, which is the fastest growing tourist destination in the world. The World Travel and Tourism Council has predicted 11.6 pc growth rate for Kerala's tourism sector by 2013.

The tourism sector here hopes to get Rs. 100000 million revenue while investments to the tune of Rs. 10000 million are also expected in this sector.

The Kerala Government recently put forward a multi-crore project to utilize the inland waterways for cargo and tourism purpose. The project to be completed in four years, which according to the officials, will ease the road traffic for a large extent and can reduce the level of pollution and also will be an economical mode of transportation for the state.

Officially, the inland waterways in Kerala stretch to a length of 1,687 km, corresponding to 11.6 percentage of a total of 14,544 km in the country. The major stretch is the West Coast Canal connecting Hosdurg in the north and Poovar, near Thrivananthapuram in the south, which has a length of 560 km.

Presently, this sector directly employs between 1.5 lakh and 2 lakh people in the operation and maintenance of boats, and for each person directly employed, at least two others are indirectly employed in allied activities such as boat building, servicing of boats, tourism and so on.

The operators of private boats, including houseboats, generated 17 lakh man-days in the last year, according to a recent study. Another 1.5 lakh man-days of employment were generated last year by boat manufacturers, with 311 man-days of employment per lakh of rupees invested.

However, despite these seemingly healthy figures, all is not well with the Inland waterways sector. The full potential for movement of people and goods has not been utilised.

The absence of navigational aids, and the lack of modern Inland craft terminals and cargo handling facilities are some of the infrastructural constraints.

Several blockages continue to exist, including the lack of depth, the absence of any maintenance of navigation system, poor protection for the banks, the use of outdated crafts and engines, which creates environment threats like water and air pollution.

Recently, to promote houseboat tourism, the local tourism department has come out with plans to implement single window clearance to the boat operators as earlier they had to wander three different government departments to get the canal, transportation and pollution clearance. It will also be taking stringent actions against the workers and operators who carry out any malpractices in this industry, said the Secretary S. Vinu Kumar of DTPC, Alleppey.

Proper dress to workers in the houseboats, number plates like road vehicles to identify them from far places to avoid accidents, proper licensing system and pollution control methods will be in action from this month, added the DTPC Secretary Kerala, with its 44 rivers, ranging in length from 15 kms to 245 kms, flow across this small stretch. With two monsoons, rainy water pours down every year, replenishing the rivers and watering the entire flora. These factors have created Kerala as the 'God's own garden country' and one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world.

Now e-learning campaign in Kerala prison

2006-12-01T10:10:00.000-08:00

After achieving success in several rural hamlets in Kerala, the Akshaya e-learning initiative would now be introduced to inmates of a prison here.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would inaugurate the e-literacy campaign for prison inmates at the Kannur Central Prison premises Sunday, a statement said. The prison has around 1,350 inmates.

The project is currently operational in eight districts of the state. It was launched in the state in 2002.

The Akshaya centres provide IT training to one member in every household at a cost of Rs.120, of which the student has to put in Rs.40 and the village council chips in the rest. Each person is given a 15-hour lesson in computer basics.

For the prison project, five computers and ancillary equipment have been set up.

New areas for gold mining spotted in Kerala

2006-12-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

The Bangalore-based Deccan Gold Mines (DGM) has identified new areas for gold mining in Kerala.

DGM has been engaged in exploration activities in the tribal heartland of Attapadi in Palakkad district during the past year, said V.N. Vasudev, the chief geologist at DGM.

'After obtaining the license, we took forward the exploration work that was initially done by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) in Attapadi. We have found new areas of potential zones of gold occurrence,' Vasudev told IANS.

The company proposes to take up reconnaissance drilling to locate the primary sources of gold zones. 'Our geologists are on the job,' said Vasudev.

DGM is also involved in gold exploration activities in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan.

According to GSI, Kerala's gold reserves, first identified in 1962, are centered in and near Nilambur forests in Malappuram district and at Attapadi in Palakkad district.

Studies have revealed that Kerala's gold content is 13.88 grams per tonne of ore. This is happy news for the cash-strapped Kerala government.

India Must Do More to Promote Kerala

2006-11-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

Indian authorities must do more to market their world-class tourist destinations like Kerala in a more aggressive manner in order to attract a large number of tourists, especially from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

This was stressed by Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of Arab News, while inaugurating the Kerala Business Meet at Sheraton Hotel here on Thursday.

“Kerala as a tourist destination is not sold properly,” he told the conference attended by a number of Saudi and Indian businessmen and executives. “Many people in this part of the world are not aware of tourist resorts in the state. I have fallen in love with Kerala after my first visit and would like to visit again,” Almaeena said recalling his happy moments in Kerala when he visited the south Indian state last year.

“The state’s beauty, especially its marvelous backwaters and lush greenery, was enthralling. The state’s hospitable, courteous and friendly people also impressed me. They are well-educated, disciplined and organized.” Almaeena’s comments were met with applause from a large gathering of top Keralite executives.

He also urged authorities in Kerala to put in greater efforts to protect the state’s marvelous beauty and salubrious environment and spoke about the state’s high literacy rate (99 percent) and how it played a major role in promoting communal harmony, setting a good example for the whole of India.

“Education cleans the minds of people,” he said, referring to how illiteracy combined with the lack of opportunities can lead to dangerous forms of ignorance anywhere in the world.

He then urged Saudis to discover India and its vast tourist attractions, to help foster stronger local economies through the travel and leisure industry.

“After 9/11, the US and Europe enforced travel restrictions, and Saudis are increasingly looking for tourist destinations in Asia,” he said.

Almaeena also said that Saudi businessmen would be happy to invest in Kerala’s tourism and information technology industries.

In his welcome address, Abdullah Al-Saihati, chairman of Saihati Group and chief patron of Orion Sargam, expressed his confidence that the Indo-Saudi Tourism Mart would increase the flow of tourists between the two countries. He also expected tremendous cooperation between the Kerala Tourism Department and the Kingdom’s Supreme Commission of Tourism (SCT). “Orion Sargam will be in the forefront to facilitate and boost this cooperation,” he said.

Referring to the longstanding historic relations between Arabs and the Indians, Al-Saihati said that as part of the spice route that connected East with West, India and the Arabian Peninsula have shared historic links since time immemorial. The spread of Islam, especially during the Middle Ages, helped strengthen a bond that endures to this day. He said the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to New Delhi in January this year has ushered a new era in Indo-Saudi relations.

He also spoke about the Saudi government’s efforts to promote domestic tourism, especially in the Eastern Province.

“King Abdullah is supporting tourism all over the Kingdom,” he added.

Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of the mission at the Indian Embassy, emphasized Kerala’s tremendous tourism potentials and pledged the embassy’s full support to promote Kerala as a major tourist destination in India.

“Kerala is the best state for package tourism, and it has tremendous potentials for ecological and medical tourism,” he said and referred to the ayurvedic medical services that abound in the state. He welcomed Saudi tourists to India and said they would find it as their second home.

“When King Abdullah visited India, he said India is ‘my second home’ and I hope that all Saudi tourists visiting India would say the same,” Shahare said.

Khaled Saad Al-Nasser, chairman of the tourism committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, spoke about his personal experiences when he visited India as part of the delegation that accompanied King Abdullah. He said the tourism mart had convinced him to place Kerala among his future tourist destinations.

“I am also impressed by Indian President Abdul Kalam, especially by his strategy of talking to young people,” he said. “Our leaders should also do the same to achieve progress.”

Al-Nasser spoke about his committee’s efforts to promote tourism in the region.

“We have a lot of natural and historical resources,” he said. “We have a lot to present to the world. We also encourage our own people to get acquainted with their Kingdom,” he said, citing one of the country’s most well known icons: The Rub Al-Khali, the Empty Quarter. But after he cited the sand dunes that comprise much of the southeastern portion of the country, he mentioned Saudi Arabia’s vast ecological diversity. (Few outsiders are aware, for example, that the lush, highland city of Abha in the southeast can receive a light dusting of snow in the winter months.)

Al-Nasser emphasized the need to liberalize the Kingdom’s regulations for promoting tourism. The Kingdom recently emphasized that general public photography is legal.

Al-Nasser said Saudi Arabia can model its tourism development efforts on others: “We are going to learn a lot from the Kerala tourism experience.”

Rafeek Younus, president of Orion Sargam, thanked Arab News for making the event a grand success. He described Almaeena as an ambassador for Kerala tourism. Younus emphasized his organization’s determination to hold similar programs in future with the support of Saudi authorities. In this regard, he noted the cooperation received from Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Fahd, chairman of the Eastern Province Tourism Organization.

Anita Pratap, a well-known journalist from Kerala (and the only woman to attend the meeting) gave a fantastic speech enumerating Kerala’s multifarious attractions that earned it the title: “God’s Own Country.”

Pratap said Saudis would love to see the state’s enchanting greeneries.

“I know how much Saudis love vegetation and greenery,” she said. “I have seen them spending a lot of money and efforts to establish farms and gardens in the desert. Kerala is the greenest state in India and is located just four hours flying time, compared to Ireland or other Western destinations.”

Pratap said everything a tourist wanted is available in Kerala.

“We have golden backwaters, splendid wildlife, mysterious mountains, enchanting coral reefs and wonderful art forms,” she said. She also spoke highly about Kerala’s healthy and nutritious cuisine.

“I could be accused of partiality, but after having tasted dishes from around the world, I am convinced that no cuisine is as nutritious and delicious as Kerala cuisine,” she said.

“Unlike north Indian food that is heavy in oil, cream and powdered masala (blend of mixed spices), Kerala food is light with minimum use of oil and garnished with plenty of natural herbs and spices such as garlic, ginger, onions, curry leaves, cardamom and a variety of seeds that provide essential nutrients to the body,” she said. “Our food is not only delicious, but also therapeutic.”

Pratap also highlighted Kerala’s medical tourism facilities and said Saudis would find world-class health facilities in the state at cheaper rates compared to Western countries. Kerala supplies some of the world’s best doctors and nurses, she said.

B. Suman, director general of Kerala Tourism, gave a presentation titled “Kerala, God’s Own Country Where Business Blooms” and narrated business and investment opportunities in the state. He said Kerala had won India’s Best Tourist State Award six times and is one of the 50-must-see tourist destinations in the world.

He said nearly 350,000 international tourists visited Kerala in 2005, spending an average of 16 days. Annual tourism growth in the state is estimated at 11.6 percent against 10.2 percent of Turkey.

He noted the Kerala government’s efforts to market tourism and carry out tourism projects in partnership with the private sector.

“We offer special incentives and packages for foreign direct investment, including electricity concession for five years,” Suman said.

At present there are 8,166 hotel rooms in Kerala, which are all booked during the high tourism season, she said.

“There are also prospects for high-quality specialist hospitals,” he added. “We have a plan to establish a holistic health care center where all types of health services including naturopathic, ayurvedic and allopathic treatment will be available under one roof. An international hospitality management institution in Alappuzha is another project we are promoting,” Suman said.

Other areas offered for investment are: Amusement parks, shopping complexes, transport services, houseboats, luxury boats and water sports.

The three-day tourism mart ended yesterday with an Indian food festival and Saudi-Indian cultural programs at the Prince Muhammad bin Fahd Park on Halfmoon Beach. A number of Saudi and Indian artists took part in the cultural programs, which included folklore dances and mimes.

Road Builder terminates RM112m Kerala project

2006-11-24T07:42:00.000-08:00

Road Builder (M) Holdings Bhd has terminated the RM112.4 million contract for the Kerala State Transport Project, Phase One after the Kerala State Government failed to make payments.

The company said on Nov 24 the termination was due to the continued failure on the part of the Kerala government to make the payment. As at Oct 31, 2006, it had completed some 63% of the construction works.

It issued a notice of termination on Nov 22 and in accordance with the contract, the termination will take effect 14 days after the notice date.

Road Builder said it would be claiming for all damages and losses arising from the default of the payment.

In a separate statement, Road Builder's net profit for the first quarter ended Sept 30, 2006 rose 19% to RM22.64 million from RM19 million a year earlier, mainly due to the recognition of profit margin from on-going projects and those nearing completion, as well as gains from disposal of property.

However, the increase was partially offset by the higher finance cost incurred and the provision of staff cost in the quarter.

Its revenue declined 12% to RM241.4 million from RM273.9 million as the completion of several projects by its property and construction divisions resulted in lower revenue.

Earnings per share was 4.35 sen against 3.65 previously.

Revenue from its toll division increased 10% to RM28.3 million from RM25.7 million mainly due to higher traffic volumes. Operating profit before finance and tax increased by 14% to RM20.7 million from RM18.2 million.

Road Builder said that although revenue from its construction division fell 25% to RM104.5 million, its operating profit before finance cost and tax increased by 81% to RM20.2 million from RM11.2 million a year ago.

Operating profit before finance cost and tax for its port operations increased by 20% to RM9.4 million from RM7.8 million while revenue saw a 6% improvement to RM23.8 million from RM25.2 million during the period under review.

The property division’s operating profit before finance cost and tax increased by 9% to RM18.7 million from RM17.1 million despite a marginal fall in revenue to RM81.8 million from RM83.9 million.

Kerala govt moves court against colas

2006-11-24T07:41:00.000-08:00

Two months after a state-wide ban on Coca-Cola and Pepsi was quashed by the Kerala High Court, authorities have filed cases against the soft drink giants alleging that some of their products contain traces of pesticides.

The petitions filed on Thursday in a court here by a food inspector of the state health department said laboratory tests of samples seized from distributors in this city had found that they contained pesticide elements.

The case was filed on the basis of tests of samples collected three months ago, shortly before the state government had banned the sale of soft drinks.

The petitions, filed under Section 20 of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, named authorities of Pepsico India Holding and Coca Cola as respondents.

The Left Democratic Front government in Kerala banned production and sale of Coca-Cola and Pepsi products in August but it was quashed by the High Court in September.

SC stays Kerala HC verdict setting aside P C Thomas' election

2006-11-24T07:40:00.000-08:00

The Supreme Court today stayed the Kerala High Court verdict setting aside the election of former Union Minister P C Thomas to the Lok Sabha and allowed him to take part in the proceedings of the House.

However, a Bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Justice C K Thakker and Justice R V Ravindran said Thomas, elected from Muvattupuzha constituency, will neither take part in the voting nor claim emoluments.

"The appellant (Thomas) is only permitted to take part in the proceedings and he cannot take part in voting or claim emoluments," the Bench said while admitting his appeal against the High Court order of October 31.

The Ernakulam Bench of the Kerala High Court had declared his election as void on the charge that he used his religious background and indulged in corrupt practices to woo voters during the polls on May 10, 2004.

The High Court had declared Thomas' rival P M Ismail of the CPI(M) elected from the seat.

The High Court had held that Thomas had appealed to the electorate to vote on the ground of his community and religion through printing and circulation of notices and calenders and used vehicles to transport voters to the polling booths.

Senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Thomas, told the apex court that the findings of the High Court are inappropriate regarding his photograph with the Pope on the circulars.

However, Ismail's lawyer K K Venugopal said the election was declared void after taking into accounts of the witnesses.

Kerala high court told not to be superstitious

2006-11-22T07:31:00.000-08:00

This is one controversy Kerala and its High Court could have done without. The state that prides itself on being the most literate in the country, apparently has as much superstition as the rest of the country.

In a pointer to its existence in the state, the Supreme Court has asked the Kerala High Court not to encourage superstition, taking note of the fact that the High Court building in Kochi has not assigned No 13 to any of its courtrooms.

A petitioner, Chandramohan, has alleged that it was due to superstitious beliefs that there was no courtroom No 13 in the building and that the room after No 12 was No 14.

In Kerala and many parts of India, No 13 is considered inauspicious. The petitioner has argued this may have played on the minds of the court authorities as well.

The new building of the Kerala High Court in Kochi was inaugurated in February this year.

Admitting the petition, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal has asked the High Court not to encourage superstition. It is expected that it would now set right the anomaly.

It is pointed out that there was once a courtroom No 13 in the old High Court when it functioned at the Ram Mohan Palace, and that it was later changed to No 12-A.

Doha Bank plans mutual fund for Kerala expatriates

2006-11-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Doha Bank may soon collaborate with India’s Tata Asset Management to offer a mutual fund targeting Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs).

Doha Bank and Tata Asset Management are now in the design stage of the mutual fund.

"We intend to offer the product to investors after obtaining regulatory approvals," Doha Bank Deputy CEO R Seetharaman told Gulf Times yesterday.

"From our side the concept and design is over. We now have to formalise it at both the sides and take it across," he said, when asked for the mutual fund’s deployment timeframe.

Seetharaman said the proposed fund would be a good opportunity for NRKs to invest and gain returns.

"We intend to deploy a minimum 30% of the mutual fund in worthwhile projects in Kerala itself," he said.

"We hope to pick up some viable projects in Kerala in association with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC). Of late tourism and IT sectors offer promising opportunities in Kerala."

Seetharaman said that a proposal on the Doha Bank-Tata Asset Management mutual fund would be presented to Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan.

The chief minister is scheduled to inaugurate a conference on ‘GCC transformation and indo-GCC investment opportunities’ hosted by Doha Bank at the Le Meridien Convention Centre here tonight. Discussions will also be held with KSIDC chairman V J Kurien.

Seetharaman said the proposal for such a mutual fund product had in fact come from the Kerala authorities themselves.

"When we met Achuthanadan in Thiruvananthapuram last month, he had suggested that such an offering would go a long way in helping thousands of middle income NRKs working in the Gulf," he said.

An estimated 3mn NRKs live in the Gulf. About 60% of the Indians in the GCC countries are from Kerala.

On the size of the mutual fund, he said it was a bit premature now.

"We first need to look at various aspects including the tax incentives," Seetharaman said.

"What India requires now is foreign direct investments. Products such as the mutual fund in our drawing board may hopefully fit the bill," he said.

On the prospects of listing the proposed mutual fund at the Doha Securities Market (DSM), he said: "It is definitely an option. Qatari stocks should also be listed across. Cross indexing is useful."

Seetharaman said Doha Bank was eagerly awaiting the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) licence for expanding its operations to India.

"We have sought the licence for a full-fledged branch. Our application was submitted in August last year. We hope it will come through quickly," he said.

He said a high-level Kerala delegation led by Achuthanadan had confirmed participation at tonight’s event. Besides the chief minister, Kerala ministers Elamaram Karim (Industry) and S Sarma (Fisheries and Registration) and senior officials will attend it.

Doha Bank would be represented by its chairman Sheikh Fahad bin Mohamed bin Jabor al-Thani, Vice-Chairman Ahmed Abdulrahman Yousaf Obeidan and Managing Director and CEO Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Mohamed bin Jabor al-Thani.

Some prominent Qatari investors, besides Emke Group Chairman M K Yousef Ali, have also reached Kochi to attend the event.

Meanwhile, the Qatari delegation was hosted by two major institutions — Kochi Refineries and Infopark here yesterday. The Kochi Refineries executives sought Qatari participation in its ambitious expansion programmes.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a major Infopark client, also made a presentation for the Qatari delegation at its facility here.

Kerala all-party meeting calls for new dam

2006-11-21T07:59:00.000-08:00

Kerala should press for a new dam to solve the current tangle over the 111-year-old Mullaperiyar dam when the state holds talks with the neighbouring Tamil Nadu at the behest of the Union Government on November 29.

This was decided at an all-party meeting, held here yesterday to discuss the Mullaperiyar issue.

The meeting also resolved that the state should stand firm on maintaining status quo on Kerala's position of retaining storage level at 136 feet.

Concern

Kerala would try its best to convince the Supreme Court, the Union Government and Tamil Nadu on the safety aspects of the old dam if the level was raised to more than 136 feet, Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said.

A demand for scrapping the Mullaperiyar agreement, entered into between Kerala and Tamil Nadu for 999 years, was also made at the meeting. Political parties expressed concern on the present storage level at the dam which stood above 138 feet.

Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, while extending support to the government, said the government failed to take any legal action under the Kerala Dam Safety Bill even after the water level rose above 136 feet.

An Iranian film in Kerala film festival

2006-11-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

An Iranian film is to be represented in the 11th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala, India. (Dec 8-15)

The film titled as "From Afar" by Ramin Mohseni is to be represented in the competitive "World Cinema" section of this film festival in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, India.

"From Afar" managed to win the best first film director award in the International Fajr festival last year in Iran. It has also previously been represented in the Vancouver and Chicago center film festivals.

The film depicts a modern Iranian youth in Tehran who makes an inward trip towards spirituality.

To become industrial powerhouse, Kerala eyes Chinese model

2006-11-13T00:49:00.000-08:00

“But there is no reason why LSGIs should not explore possibilities of setting up such units, or of encouraging potential entrepreneurs, singly or in cooperatives, to set up such units whose ownership and risk-taking patterns can take diverse steps”.

The paper, while referring to industrial activities and self -employment, draws another parallel with China. It says the argument that Keralites lack entrepreneurial talent is “at best a tautology” and a “proposition for which there is no independent evidence other than the very conclusion drawn from it”. The paper then states: “Similar propositions used to be advanced about the Chinese until China started emerging as an industrial power”.

It argues that given the magnitude and spread of purchasing power in Kerala’s economy, thanks to the substantial remittance inflows, there is scope for self-employment projects and small-scale industry. For this, the government plans to rekindle the “entrepreneurial spirit” in many ways — “creating post-graduate programmes in areas like biotechnology and IT with a management accounting component needed for running a successful business”.

The paper then reasons that Kerala has to move forward along this path instead of following the “waiting-for-the-MNCs” path.

International Film Festival of Kerala from Dec 8

2006-11-08T17:55:00.000-08:00

The eleventh International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK 2006) would be held here from December 8 to 15.

A total of 143 films from around the world will be screened at the IFFK, K R Mohanan, Chairman of Kerala State Chalachitra Akademi, said in a release here.

Fifteen films from Asia, Africa and Latin American countries have been selected for the prestigious competition section of IFFK, he said.

The films in the competition category included T V Chandran's `Aadum Koothu' (Dance of Life) in Tamil and M P Sukumaran Nair's `Drishtantham' (Vision) in Malayalam.

`The Violin' (Mexico), `Dry Season' (Chad), `Angel's Fall' (Turkey), `Road Under the Skies' (Uzbekistan) and `Full of Empty' (Iran) are among the other movies in the section.

The festival also has a Malayalam cinema section, in which eight films would be screened.

`Maati Maay' (Chitra Palekar), `Dosar' (Rituparno Ghosh), `Naayi Neralu' (Girish Kasaravalli), `Kya Tum Ho' (Anish Ahluwalia), `Shevri' (Gajendra Ahire) and `Vanaja' (Rajesh Domalpalli) are the films in the Indian cinema section.

The festival would be inaugurated by Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on December 8 with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi and actress Sharmila Tagore being the chief guests.

Security tightened at airports in TN, Kerala following threat letter

2006-11-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

An anonymous letter received at the Tiruchy airport warning of bomb threat by ‘Al Qaeda terrorists’ to airports in Tamil Nadu and Kerala has sent airport officials and state police into a tizzy with security being tightened at Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai, Coimbatore and Thiruvananthapuram airports.

The hand written letter in Tamil, titled ‘Allah Osama,’ found by the CISF at the Tiruchy airport this morning warned that ‘Al Qaeda terrorists’ would set off modern explosive devices at airports in Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore and “some airports in Kerala,’’ said P Kandasamy, Tiruchy DIG.

In Chennai, a high-level meeting was convened by the state IG (Intelligence) Subramanyam and Chennai Airport Director Dinesh Kumar. “The meeting assessed the threat perception and decided to take extra security measures at all these airports,’’ Kumar said, adding that the threat letter “would be viewed seriously as safety of passengers and airport operations were of prime importance.’’

As the letter talked about “car bombs’’ as well, all vehicles entering the airport would also be screened, officials said, adding that “all standard security procedures would be invoked.’’

Mumbai's 'Kerala House' to be opened soon

2006-11-08T17:52:00.000-08:00

The construction work of the Kerala House in the commercial capital of the country, will be completed by the first week of December.

The formal inaugural function of the 'Kerala House', located in the washi area of the metro, would be attended by prominent personalities from various walks of life.

However, it is expected that the Chief Minister V.S.Achuthanandan will be inaugurating the 'Kerala House', the realization a long cherished dream of the large Malayalee community here.

Kerala political parties slam Saddam verdict

2006-11-08T17:51:00.000-08:00

In a state where there is a Saddam Beach, a Saddam Store and a Saddam Junction, outrage against the verdict handed out to the Iraqi leader was not unexpected, but the high decibel protests against Saddam Hussain's death sentence has surprised even observers in Kerala.

All major political parties in the state have condemned the verdict against Saddam as a sham.

Minutes after the verdict was flashed on television screens, protest marches were visible on the streets across the state, with many protesters shouting slogans praising Saddam and calling for the W. Bush. Many of the rallies culminated with burning Bush's effigies.

Interestingly, leaders of normally warring parties like the Congress and the Communist Party of India- Marxist have also demanded quashing the verdict against Saddam in one voice.

US firm tie up with Kerala IT group

2006-11-08T17:50:00.000-08:00

VISaer Inc, a leader in aviation maintenance and engineering software solutions, Wednesday tied up with Technopark-based IBS Group for providing offshore software development services.

IBS will provide the US-headquartered VISaer with contracted development and technology assessment resources, said a statement issued here.

"We partner with our customers to help address their business needs using our unique extended software development facility (ESDF) methodology. IBS will set up an exclusive pool of resources that would operate as an extension of the VISaer's Systems Development team," said V.K Mathews, chairman and managing director of IBS Group.

IBS is a leading provider of new generation IT solutions to the travel, transportation and logistics industries.

German industrialists visit Kerala

2006-11-07T21:06:00.000-08:00

A ten-member team of industrialists and professionals from Germany visited the State to explore the investment prospects here. The group reviewed the management culture and industrial relations prevalent here. The team led by Wolfgang Holtgen, Managing Director of Holtgen IT projects of Germany, also held discussions with industrialists, company managers and management professionals.

A press release issued by FACT here on Monday said the team was particularly interested in gauging the scope of foreign investment in Kerala, safety of investments, extend of Government control, nature of trade unions and industrial relations here.

During their one-week sojourn in the State, the German team held discussions with the heads of various companies, representatives of Kerala Management Association and Vice Chancellor of the Cochin University of Science and Technology.

The German team made a detailed presentation of their culture, social life, child upbringing and educational set-up during their interaction with industrialists here. They also acknowledged the fact that many research scholars from Kerala went to Germany to refer ancient books available in German libraries and museums.

The press release said many entrepreneurs in Germany were eager to make investments in Kerala. The team will present their views on the industrial atmosphere in Kerala before various entrepreneurs in Germany.

Web-monitoring of Kerala jails soon

2006-11-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

Web-based monitoring of Kerala prisons is on the cards with the High Court directing the government to take immediate steps, including online surveillance, to keep track of goings-on inside prisons in the State.

The directions in this regard were given yesterday by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice, V K Bali and Justice P R Raman, while accepting the recommendations made by Amicus Curaie, lawyer P B Sahasranamam, appointed by the court.

Such a step, would help put a stop to abuse of prisoners belonging to a political party by those belonging to another outfit in connivance with jail authorities, the Bench held.

Directions were issued while disposing suo notu proceedings initiated on the basis of a complaint made by a Kannur central jail inmate that certain prisoners were allegedly being harmed by co-prisoners owing allegiance to another political party with the help of jail staff.

According to Sahasranamam,a surprise check was not possible inside the jails as entry to them was restricted. A continious monitoring of jails would help check the abuse, he said.

Using web cameras along with motion sensors and wireless technology was the best solution, he said. Such cameras, the size of a match box, can be installed in common places where surveillance is needed.

Stress on need for more investor education in State

2006-11-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

The average Kerala investor is hardly moved by the buoyant stock market phase though the broking community is going gaga over the recent behaviour of the stocks. One reason may be the lack of confidence of the typical investor who prefers the relatively safer mutual funds and term deposits.

As per statistics available, Kerala has only three to four million equity investors which has the potential to go up by ten to twelve times. Naturally, after the series of scams investors are apprehensive of investing in equity market. But the fact is that the stock markets have emerged stronger and stable after the scandals. There is stricter monitoring by the regulatory authorities. Buoyed by the massive investment proposed by French major BNP Paribas in Geojit, managing director of Geojit Financial Services C.J. George is upbeat about the stock markets. He is an advocate of mid term course correction so that the average Keralite investor turns from unproductive investment to the equity market with some prudent planning and long term goals. He says that an intelligent assessment of how to invest is crucial if one is to succeed in the stock market. The stress should be on financial education so that the investor community would become more aware of the inherent risks in the equity market and the potential for market capitalisation.

Geojit has started tapping the hitherto neglected segments like head-load workers. The biggest chunk of investment comes from non-resident Keralites whose priorities sometimes get skewed because of a variety of reasons. Ninety-five per cent of the NRK remittances are small ones, naturally sent to the dependents back home for monthly household expenses. After fulfilling these commitments, the rest of the remittances find their way to banks in term deposits.
The boom in the retail sector and Kerala having emerged as a consumerist society has cast a shadow on the equity markets. Despite the unhealthy trend of conspicuous consumption, the State, of late has a better investment scenario though not keeping in line with the high physical quality of life index.

As per the latest Economic Review statistics, twenty-two per cent of Kerala's gross domestic product comes from the commercial sector, a major portion of which is the retail industry. Kerala tops the nation in per capita consumption. Real estate is another boom field where the annual business has crossed Rs.1000 crore. Much of the credit given by financial institutions like banks goes to the real estate sector.

Gold and textiles retail are the major segments where the retail has got itself well entrenched. As per estimates, there is twenty-five per cent increase annually in retail gold business and Kerala accounts for fifteen per cent of the 800 tonnes of gold traded in the country. Mr. George says that liquidity is the driving force behind any investment decision. Fixed deposits are popular since the investors believe that they are safer. But with falling interest rates, a large number of investors, especially senior citizens, are forced to look for better options including the stock markets.

It is in this context that experts are talking of a need for more financial literacy in Kerala. Knowledge about potential of avenues like Portfolio Management and Mutual Funds should be imparted to the investors.

Financial education should start early and untapped segments like women investors should be properly guided to strengthen the equity markets in the State.

PMO asks for explanation on Kerala security lapse

2006-11-01T00:20:00.000-08:00

The Prime Minister's Office has asked for an explanation from the Kerala government on the security breach that occurred when the convoy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came to a screeching halt after the pilot car took a wrong route.

The prime minister arrived at Thiruvananthpuram on Tuesday night at 9.35 pm and the security lapse took place while he was being driven to Raj Bhavan, the state governor's official residence.

The National Security Guards (NSG) director has also reportedly asked for an explanation from Kerala's Director General of Police Raman Srivastava.

Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has demanded a report within 48 hours on the goof-up. Additional Director General of Police Jacob Punnoose has been asked by Srivastava to submit the inquiry report.

Police officials accompanying the prime minister jumped out of their cars when the vehicles, including that of Manmohan Singh, came to an abrupt halt, seeing the pilot vehicle take a totally different route.

The prime minister's journey resumed five minutes later.

Police sources said a tourist taxi driver and not a policeman was driving the pilot vehicle. However, a circle inspector of the Kerala police was sitting beside him.

Police detained the driver of the car for interrogation as soon as the convoy reached Raj Bhavan where Manmohan Singh stayed overnight. The circle inspector, who was also in car, has been suspended.

According to reports, the driver in question had committed similar errors on earlier trial runs.

Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who had left for New Delhi via Chennai on Tuesday night, cut short his visit and returned to the state capital to investigate the matter.

Time has come for Kerala to take bold steps: Manmohan

2006-11-01T00:19:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the Centre would assist Kerala in its plans for developing airport connectivity and improving the agriculture and plantation economy of the state.

Speaking after inaugurating the construction work of the new international terminal complex at the airport and laying the foundation for Air India's maintenance base here, Singh said the Centre had decided to improve airport infrastructure considering the importance of connectivity at a time when tourism was registering growth.

Stating that the Centre was aware of the anxieties of the plantation sector, he said the Government would not do anything to hurt the interests of people in the state. He wanted investors in the plantation sector to diversify investment and to make better use of new market opportunities in India and abroad.

"We need to make effective use of modern science and technology to improve productivity of plantation sector. At the same time, we must also be prepared to face competition from countries like Vietnam and Sri Lanka with whom we have long historical and fraternal relations," he said.

Singh said the UPA Government was committed to improving the agriculture and plantation sectors in Kerala, especially in areas like Wayanad and Alappuzha to help farmers and agricultural labourers.

He said the setting up of National Fisheries Development Board would give a boost to development of fisheries sector.

The Centre was taking steps for the development of country's port infrastructure. Azhikkal port in Kannur had been included in the National Maritime Development Programme. The harbour at Vizhinjam would also be developed, he said.

Singh said though Kerala in the past 50 years had been a symbol of highly impressive human development investments in education and healthcare, the state lagged behind in developing modern industries and knowledge economy.

"The time has come for Kerala to take bold steps forward and emerge as one of our leading states in every facet of socio-economic development," Singh said.

He said Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi should take advantage of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission to upgrade its infrastructure in both the cities. A mass rapid transit facility could be developed at Kochi, he said.

The state should also take the benefit of 'Bharat Nirman' programme to improve rural electrification and road connectivity, Singh said.

Kerala police investigating threat to PM

2006-10-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

It's an e-mail threat that Kerala police isn't taking lightly, the e-mail threatened to attack Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Kerala.

Singh is scheduled to visit Kerala on November 1 to mark the Golden Jubilee of the state's formation.

Now sources say the email may just have been a prank but the security agencies in the state or at the Centre are taking few chances.

Kerala is on high alert now and the SPG in the capital held a two hour security drill to ensure they had the Prime Minister's security detail perfect as he heads for state's golden jubilee celebrations.

All the mails sent from the same address were mailed from an Internet cafe in Thiruvanathpuram.

It said that Dr Singh will be assassinated when he comes to Kerala next week on October 31.

Soon after, the police raided the cafe and took four people including the owner of the café a woman into custody. The café has been sealed and all computer systems are being examined

"We have located the source from where it was sent from a computer in the Internet cafe. There is an immediate threat to the Prime Minister and proposed threat to the president," said DGP, Raman Srivastav.

Afzal's release

The mail also asks for the release of Afzal Guru, the man sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case and Abdul Nasser Madhani, an accused in the 1999 Coimbatore bomb blast case, currently in jail.

The Kerala police startled by the sudden development went to an increased security mode with the Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan chairing a meeting of senior officials to review Dr Singh's security.

"The probe is being conducted by Cyber-Forensic Team and Hi- Tech Crime Cell. Also we have taken all measures to beef up security during Prime Minister's visit," said Balakrishnan.

Kerala has had no terrorist attack so far but intelligence agencies are now increasingly worried that certain fundamentalist outfits are using the state as a hideout.

After the e-mail threat, the central agencies have asked the state police to ensure maximum security in this area.

Satellite campus of IIT(Madras) in Kerala

2006-10-26T03:04:00.001-07:00

Madras IIT has agreed to start one of their satellite campuses in Kerala, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan told the Assembly today.

The proposed campus, to be set up on 250 acres of land, required an estimated amount of rs.800 crore, he said while replying to a submission on the necessity for setting up an IIT in the state.

Achuthanandan said place for the IIT campus has not been finalised.

The state government has informed Madras IIT to start the first batch during the 2007-08 academy year in the Engineering College here. It was planned to commission the full-fledged campus of IIT within five years after starting the work of the campus,he said.

To a calling attention motion on setting up a Hight Court bench at Kozhikode,Achuthanandan said proposal for setting up the High Court bench at Thiruvananthapuram was under the active consideration of both the Centre and state governments.

There was no proposal before the government to set up a High Court bench at Kozhikode, he said.

An absence of an High Court bench at Thiruvananthapuram was causing difficulty in dealing with government cases, he said adding the state's capital was the only one in the country which did not have a High Court bench.

On speeding up the work of International Airport at Kannur, Achuthanandan said a special officer would be appointed to carry out the land acquisition process.

The State has also informed the Centre that the proposed airport coming up at Moorgkenparambu would be on a public-private partnership, he added.

To another submission, Achuthanandan said strict instructions have been given to departments and PSU heads to report the vacancies to Public Service Commission.

Action would be taken against officials who failed to report the vacancies, he said adding government would not allow persons to be appointed on daily wages in institutions and organisations where appointments were made through PSC.

A committee,under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, has been constituted to monitor the vacancy report of various departments, he said.

A total of 14,614 vacancies have been reported to the PSC by various departments after the LDF government came to power, he pointed out.

Preliminary probe finds no irregularities: Balakrishnan

2006-10-26T03:04:00.000-07:00

A preliminary probe has not found any irregularities in large-scale land deals in Kochi and nearby areas,Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan informed the assembly today.

However, the Government views seriously reports that counterfeit notes had been used for purchasing lands in Kochi and would make a detailed inquiry, Balakrishnan said while replying to Congress member K Babu's submission.

Raising the matter, Babu, quoting media reports, said counterfeit notes were used in land deals to the tune of rs 300 crore in recent weeks.

The counterfeit notes have come to Kerala in two containers and Pakistan's ISI agents were suspected to be behind the transport of counterfeit notes to Kerala, Babu said.

Three police commissionerates to be set up in Kerala

2006-10-26T03:00:00.000-07:00

Fully empowered police commissionerates would be set up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kochi, Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said on Wednesday.

A committee, which looked into the functioning of the police had suggested the Government to set up police commissionerates to strengthen the working of police forces, Balakrishnan said while replying to a submission in the State Assembly.

A day of prayers and merriment

2006-10-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Muslims in Kerala joined over a billion co-religionists around the globe to celebrate Id-ul-Fitr (Cheriya Perunnaal), the day of festival after the end of the fasting month of Ramzan, on Monday.

The clear, bright day set the mood for celebration, and the long weekend made it possible for relatives and friends to get together for the festival. The State Government had declared both Monday and Tuesday holidays.

Since the festival follows the lunar calendar and the date is determined by the sighting of the new moon, there was confusion until Sunday evening whether it would be on Monday or Tuesday.

However, organisations of religious pundits, on reports of sighting the new moon, declared Monday as the festival early, ending the confusion. Mosques announced the festival by chanting "Allahu Akbar" on the public address system.

Festive spirit

Children and women, with fresh henna (mayilaanchi) designs on their palms, kept awake all night, expecting the excitement of the day. Drawing intricate designs on the palms and hands with freshly ground henna leaves is a highlight of the festival, for women and children.

Mass prayers, a key component of the festival, were held on open public spaces and in mosques. In Kochi, the prayers were held at makeshift

"Id gahs" at Marine Drive, the international stadium and several mosques. Community members, including a large number of women and children, participated.

Senior clerics or community elders gave the sermons.

Having a sumptuous meal with friends and relatives is an important aspect of the Id celebration.

The camaraderie and visits to the homes of neighbours, friends and relatives add to the festival mood.

As part of the "fitr zakaat," free Perunnaal kits, comprising food items, new clothes and money, were distributed to the poor. This a trend which picked up momentum in the past five years. Fitr zakaat is an old custom of well-off people giving money and food items to the poor.

The custom has these days taken a collective form, with people pooling their resources to distribute the kits. In places such as Kozhikode, lines form in front of centres where the kits are distributed. In some places, the kits were supplied on a first come, first served basis, while in others, tokens were issued for taking the kits later.

However, many people who turned up for receiving the kits were "professional" beggars from outside Kerala. They started arriving a week ago and many of them wore Muslim garments.

Kerala CM against Centre's move for private post offices

2006-10-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

Kerala Chief Minister, V S Achuthanandan, on Monday, opposed the Centre's move to allow post offices in the private sector and said it was against the assurance given by UPA Government to the LDF and employees working in postal department.

In a statement here, Achuthanandan said sanctioning private post offices was "With a view to destroy the postal department, one of the biggest public sector undertaking in the country."

The UPA Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh "was not learning a lesson" and was moving ahead with its globalisation policy, he said.

Instead of strengthening the postal department to improve its services, the Centre's move to privatise postal service was against the country's interest, he added.

Kerala has expectations from Antony: Achuthanandan

2006-10-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Tuesday said he had expectations from A.K. Antony, tipped to be inducted in the union cabinet.

Responding to reporters' query, Achuthanandan said he was not devoid of expectations from Antony for the state.

Both Achuthanandan and Antony hail from Alappuzha district.

When asked if he called up Antony to congratulate him after the news that he was likely to become cabinet minister, the chief minister replied in negative.

'Classmates' reigns among Kerala's Ramadan films

2006-10-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

The end of the month of Ramadan is near. New releases are still away, so this list remains unchanged.

The top five Malayalam films are:

1. "Classmates" - The Midas touch of director Lal Jose has given a new lease of life to young actors like Prithiviraj and Jayasurya.

2. "Keerthi Chakra" - Mohan Lal battling in Kashmir is still holding the audiences' interest.

3. "Mahasamudram" - Mohan Lal as a fisherman generated a lot of hope but the equation has gone wrong somewhere.

4. "Don" - Dileep wanted to do a trademark Shaji Kailas-style movie. His wish was granted but the audience has not accepted it wholeheartedly. It may not turn out to be the commercial success it was expected to be.

5. "Pathaka" - Yet another political thriller starring Suresh Gopi and biting the dust, but the film remains on this list for want of competition.

Kerala demands Thalassery-Mysore rail link

2006-10-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

The kerala government would put pressure on the Centre to make provision for a Thalassery-Mysore railway line in next year’s railway budget, state law and parliamentary affairs minister M Vijayakumar said on Wednesday.

He said the railway line would give a tremendous boost to development of Malabar region. Home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had recently met the railway minister Lalu Prasad and submitted a memorandum urging the centre to revive the proposal for the line, mooted first by the British, he said.

A meeting to discuss issues connected with railway development in Kerala would be convened soon.

Kerala govt sacks Infopark chief

2006-10-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

By sacking a former key Kerala negotiator with Dubai Technology and Free Zone Authority (TECOM), the Left government has reiterated its preference for a new business model for the Rs2.4bn Smart City.

Additional Secretary K Suresh Kumar in the Chief Minister’s Office confirmed that the government had issued orders ending the contract of K G Girish Babu, CEO of the State-owned Infopark at Kochi.“It’s been a personal decision of Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, who holds charge of IT and there’s no chance for reconsidering the decision,” said Suresh Kumar.

The Chief Minister’s office has given additional charge of Infopark to V J Jayakumar, the GM (technical) at the government-owned Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram. Babu, who had conceived and set up Infopark, said he had been tipped off about it nearly a week ago. “I’m packing up and handing over charge. I’ve several options but I wouldn’t comment further”, he said.

Babu had started his career with the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation and moved to Kerala Hi-Tech Industries, Kerala IT Mission and finally Infopark. TECOM authorities were nonplussed by the sudden removal of the Infopark mentor, who instrumental in TECOM’s evincing interest in an IT free-trade corridor in Kochi.

While it would be early to say whether the Babu factor will have a bearing on the fate of the Smart City proposal, the decision has come at a crucial stage when negotiations between the government and TECOM have slowed down over terms of Kerala participation, if at all, in the project.

Three crucial factors are weighing down on the proposal — government reluctance to hand over Infopark to TECOM, exorbitant land price and the government’s non-committal stand on the level of its equity participation. An IT source said the chances of the Smart City proposal materialising have whittled down to 30 per cent on account of this. TECOM has of late started looking at other destinations in south India other than Bangalore, which is overcrowded. It has a major project on the anvil in Andhra Pradesh and it’s seriously weighing the option of Tamil Nadu.

Upcountry, it’s still keeping its fingers crossed on a proposal in Calcutta. Both Achuthanandan and Law Minister M Vijayakumar had asserted publicly that Smart City would soon be a reality. Achuthanandan had announced the creation of an additional 200,000 IT jobs in the state in the next five years, possibly factoring in jobs to be generated at Smart City.

“I’m 120 per cent sure the proposal will materialize. TECOM likes to have a state guarantee for the project for which we’ve sought a reciprocal arrangement. We’re even ready for a joint venture. Our final terms would be sent to them in a week”, said Kumar.

Justice B S Reddy new Chief Justice of Kerala HC

2006-10-17T19:26:00.000-07:00

Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Justice B Subhashan Reddy, would be the new Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court.

He succeeds Justice Nauvdip Kumar Sodhi, who has been transferred as Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, an official release said here.

Justice Reddy has been directed to take up his new assignment on or before December 1, 2004, it added.

Searches in Kerala to detect customs duty evasion

2006-10-15T18:23:00.001-07:00

Officials of the Directorate and Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and Customs have conducted joint searches in several parts of Kerala, including Kochi, Kozhikode and Thrissur, as part of a nation-wide operation.

The searches were carried out in the state in the last two days to detect customs duty evasion estimated to be running in several crores in the import of base oil by wrongly claiming it as rubber processing oil, customs sources said.

DRI officials from Mumbai conducted the searches here and elsewhere in the country.

Thirtyfive officials of the customs here coordinated the operation, the sources said.

However, they declined to divulge further details like where the raids were carried out.

A huge consignment of base oil, the basic ingridient for all varieties like automobile oil, lubricant oil were imported through major ports in the country reportedly by wrongly claiming it as rubber processing oil, thus resulting in duty evasion worth several crores, the sources said.

Efforts on to preserve police, govt. records

2006-10-15T18:23:00.000-07:00

Over 200 year-old records lying in dusty police stations across Kerala, including those relating to the 1921 Mopalah rebellion of Malabar, may soon get a new lease of life as efforts are being made to preserve them.

'Old records of British officers of Malabar and other regions are still there in the police stations dotting the state. Now we are trying to get in touch with police officers to preserve them', K J Sohan, State Coordinator of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), said here. The British were good at keeping records. But they are all recorded in paper, which would soon wither away if not preserved, he says.

Sohan, a former Mayor of Kochi, said he had accompanied former DGP Kerala, Hormis Tharakan, to some police stations in Malabar, including the Pandikad police station, one of the oldest in the region. The old records of British officers of the Mopallah rebellion were still lying in the police stations in the region, he said.

The government offices and district collectorates are also storehouses of several old records, which also needs to be preserved. They are all kept in boxes and may not last long, he feels.

The aim is to create a police museum and store this for posterity, he said.

Cajoling the government departments to part with their records would not be easy, he admits.

INTACH's Mural Painting Conservation Research and Training centre at nearby Tripunithura, was presently involved in a project for preserving the metal images from 8th to 18th century. The altar of an Latin church at Mathilakam had been restored recently, he said.

Schemes for tourism promotion in Kerala

2006-10-13T08:03:00.000-07:00

Development works to a tune of Rs five crore would be implemented at Athirapall waterfalls in Thrissur district to attract more domestic and foreign tourists, Kerala Tourism Minister Kodeyari Balakrishnan told the Assembly on Thursday.

The works included facilities for viewing the waterfall and dynamic lighting system, Balakrishnan said while replying to a submission of C Raveendranath (CPI-M).

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 3.5 crore for the projects and the remaining Rs.1.50 crore was the State's share, he said.

A tourist package linking Athirapally water falls, Peechi and Chimini dams were also under consideration, he said.

The Allapuzha District Tourism Promotion Council has been asked to submit a project report for the development of a tourist spot near Kayamkulam backwaters, he said.

The Government would take futher stpes on Kayamkulam tourism development after getting the report, he said.

Clean Kerala day

2006-10-13T08:02:00.000-07:00

The State Health Minister P K Sreemathi said that as part of Kerala government's sanitation and anti-mosquito drive, 'Clean Kerala Day' would be observed today, People from all walks of life would take part in the sanitation drive, launched in the wake of the spread of Chikungunya viral fever, in different parts of the state, the minister said in a release here. The observance of October 13 as 'Clean Kerala Day' would mark the beginning of programmes to create awareness among the people for keeping their premises clean, the release said.

Kerala to set up Railway Development Corporation

2006-10-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

The Kerala government proposes to constitute a railway development corporation on the lines of that in Maharashtra to take up infrastructure development, the assembly was told on Tuesday.

Replying to a calling attention motion, law and parliamentary affairs Minister M Vijayakumar said the government would convene a high-level meeting to be presided over by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan to discuss railway development.

A permanent monitoring cell comprising members of parliament from Kerala would also be set up, he added.

The Minister said the government would continue to exert pressure on the centre to fulfil Kerala’s demand for a separate railway zone. In the absence of a zone, the state was deprived of its legitimate share in the development of railways, he said.

Around 40 lakhs unemployed in Kerala

2006-10-11T05:47:00.000-07:00

Minister P K Gurudasan told the assembly today that 40, 64,228 unemployed persons have registered in the state employment exchanges till August 31, 2006.Out of the total, 382 are illiterate.

Meanwhile Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan stated that a bill brought by the Central Law Reformation Panel would be passed to confiscate the illegal property owned by government officials and social activists.

Kerala to frame laws to confiscate wealth of corrupt

2006-10-11T05:46:00.000-07:00

Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Wednesday said laws allowing confiscation of unaccounted wealth belonging to public figures and government officials are on anvil.

"In 2003, the centre had instructed the Kerala government to frame laws through which wealth accumulated beyond legal income of public figures and officials be confiscated. But the then Congress-led United Democratic Front kept it in abeyance without taking any action," said Achuthanandan in response to a question raised in the state assembly by three ruling front legislators.

The chief minister added he already acted on that recommendation of the central government and forwarded the file to the state's vigilance director for further consideration.

"We also plan to revamp the rules and guidelines of the Charitable Societies Act because it has come to our notice that many such organisations registered under this Act have accumulated huge wealth," added the chief minister.

Moreover, Achuthanandan also warned of stern action against officials in the ongoing Palmoil case, which is being currently heard in the Supreme Court.

The Palmoil case was registered in 1999 when E.K. Nayanar was the chief minister that accused K. Karunakaran and two currently serving top Kerala bureaucrats among others of a criminal conspiracy causing a loss of Rs.20.32 million to the state exchequer on account of importing 15,000 tonnes of palm oil from Malaysia at an enhanced price.

Kerala to be garbage free soon

2006-10-11T05:45:00.001-07:00

Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on Monday told the Assembly that the state government would strictly implement anti-pollution acts with a view for protecting the enviornment.

The scheme to make Kerala garbage free is being worked out and it would be launched on October 13, VS said.

VS said the Environment Department would be strengthened to implement the programmes.

The state government would take necessary steps to cancel licences of the factories that had not set up garbage disposal mechanisms and pollution treatment plants, the Chief Minister added.

Kerala's literary critic turns assembly reporter

2006-10-11T05:45:00.000-07:00

Sukumar Azhikode, veteran literary critic and orator, surprised many including legislators as he turned up in the press box of the Kerala assembly Tuesday.

As Azhikode, wearing the badge of Kerala Kaumadi, a Malayalam newspaper, took his seat in the press box in the morning, ministers and legislators from both the ruling and opposition parties broke the assembly norms and chatted with him from the assembly floor.

Congress legislator Aryadan Mohammed had a word of appreciation for Azhikode, but another Congress legislator K. Babu objected to his presence and fellow legislators breaking the norms.

Speaker K. Radhakrishnan clarified: "He is a journalist sitting in the press box."

Azhikode told IANS that he was there to write a column on the assembly proceedings.

Doha Bank to hold investors' meet in Kerala

2006-10-08T07:17:00.001-07:00

To mark the golden jubilee of the formation of Kerala state, Doha Bank - a premier bank of Qatar - is organising an investors' meet at Kochi next month.

Doha Bank, which has been in operation for the past 27 years, has been rated as the best bank of the Middle East. They have 25 branches with offices in US, Dubai, Singapore, Turkey and Japan.

"Our aim is to showcase Kerala to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to encourage foreign direct investment to the state and to India," R. Seetharaman, deputy chief executive of bank, told IANS Sunday.

Incidentally, this is the first time a reputed financial institution in the Middle East is taking a lead to promote investments in Kerala.

"We are confident that through this meet we will able to invite the cream of high value GCC companies, Sheikhs and leading personalities to Kochi. We are expecting around 250 top investors from various sectors from the six Middle Eastern countries," Seetharaman said.

Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan has agreed to inaugurate the daylong meet, likely to be held Nov 11 or Nov 12.

"The chief minister was extremely receptive to our initiative and has pledged us all support," K.V. Samuel, a top Doha Bank official, said.

The investors are looking at the banking, tourism and education sectors.

Doha Bank has plans to operate from India and it also intends to collaborate with financial institutions in the country.

"We are confident that this meet will set the ball rolling for increasing bilateral trade between India and GCC," Seetharaman added.

Taj to set up resort in Kerala

2006-10-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces will manage and operate a premium beach resort in Bekal, North Kerala, jointly with the state government and Khanna Hotels.

The proposed beach resort project, to be launched in the next two years, will be developed on a 24-acre site, and will be operated under the Taj Leisure Hotels brand, a release issued here said.

The resort will offer 75-rooms and suites, a restaurant and bar, an outdoor dining shack on a hillock overlooking the sea, meeting and conference facilities, full-fledged fitness centre, gym, tennis courts and children's play area, it said.

Raymond Bickson, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), The Indan Hotels Company Limited, said that "we are delighted to widen our presence in Kerala. We are honoured to partner with the Kerala Government and Khanna Hotels on the Bekal project."

"Leisure and hospitality in this region is growing tremendously and it is important for the Taj Hotels to be present in key strategic locations in the state," he added.

The resort will also feature a Taj Jiva Spa, which will be one of the key elements of the resort.

Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces currently operates seven hotels/resorts in Kerala.

South-West monsoon vigorous again in Kerala

2006-10-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

After a few days gap, the South West monsoon has become vigorous again in Kerala with rain lashing almost all parts of the state since Friday night.

Rain or thundershowers occurred at many places in Lakshadweep too, the local weather office said on Saturday.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall was reported in Paravoor 13 cm and Thiruvananthapuram Airport 11 cm.

The other chief amounts of rain received were (in cm) Kochi Airport, Nedumangad, Varkala eight each, Thiruvananthapuram City, Cherthala, Kozha, Piravam and Thodupuzha seven each.

Kannur recorded the highest maximum temperature of 32 Degree C, while Thiruvananthapuram recorded the lowest minimum temperature of 22 Degree C.

Isolated heavy rain was likely in Kerala during the next 48 hours, the MeT office predicted.

Kerala's first railway station cyber-cafe

2006-10-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

Kerala's first Railway station cyber-cafe, set up at an estimated cost of Rs seven lakh by Railtel Corporation Ltd, was inaugurated here yesterday.

The cafe will provide a unique broadband experience to travelers as they can buy a RailTel pre-paid card from one location and use at any other RailTel cyber-cafe, a press release said.

The cyber-cafes will be equipped with 10-20 high end multimedia PCs with flat panel monitors. Travelers can now browse the Internet for Rs 20 an hour.

RailTel, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways, plans to offer other value added services like printing, scanning, mobile charging and CD writing through these cafes.

Passengers can also use the cafe for making net-telephony based ISD calls at affordable rates. RailTel has gone for a franchisee model to manage the cafes, with VSNL being the franchisee for Ernakulam.

Similar cafes would be provided at Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad and Kozhikode stations in due course.

Kerala govt. plans new Act on town planning

2006-10-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

Kerala Government is considering enactment of a new Town and Country Planning Act which would remove obstructions in acquisition of land for developmental activities, Minister for Self-Governance Paloli Mohammed Kutty said today.

Replying to a calling attention motion by V Sivankutty (CPI-M) in the Assembly, he said the High Court had directed the Government not to give exemptions to individual applicants for construction activities in special zones identified for urban development.

In the new Act, there would be provisions for amending the masterplans and district town planning schemes in accordance with the requirements of local people.

The minister said peoples' representatives would be consulted at all levels while implementing developmental programmes

'Strings' denial raised in Kerala Assembly

2006-10-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan Tuesday said the state government was ready to allow the Pakistani rock band Strings to perform here last Sunday had New Delhi given it the necessary clearance.

The chief minister was replying to a question in the state assembly by Communist Party of India-Marxist legislator M. Prakasan who criticised the central government for denying clearance to the band to perform in the state capital.

'They were allowed to perform in several cities in the country including communally volatile Ahmedabad, but not in Kerala,' said Prakasan.

'This is a band which has been given the goodwill ambassador status by the UN for AIDS,' he added.

The band was to perform on Oct 1 at the Thiruvananthapuram Engineering College but could not make it because the clearance was not given.

Bank staff strike work in Kerala

2006-10-03T08:25:00.000-07:00

Banking services were hit in Kerala today as employees struck work protesting the proposed merger of the Lord Krishna Bank (LKB) with the Centurion Bank of Punjab.

The one-day state-wide strike was called by the Kerala unit of the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), an umbrella organisation of nine banking sector unions.

The strike affected the functioning of public sector and scheduled banks while the new generation banks were functioning normally, officials said.

Union leaders claimed that the response to the strike call was spontaneous and overwhelming.

The employees took out marches across the state demanding that the Centre give up the merger move to avoid adversely affecting the interests of depositors and employees of LKB in particular and the social banking cause in general.

The annual general meeting of LKB had yesterday adopted a resolution seeking RBI clearance for the merger proposal

Kerala police unravels letter bomb mystery

2006-10-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Kerala police Monday unravelled the mystery behind the three letter bombs that had gone off hours before President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam arrived here Sep 21.

"We have taken into custody a 29-year-old man named Rajiv alias Sharma, son of a retired soldier, from the outskirts of the city. He has confessed the crime and said it was meant to frighten his adversaries to whom the letters were sent," Director General of Police Raman Srivatsava said here.

"This incident had nothing to do with the president's visit," he added.

The first two letter bombs exploded at the Manacaud post office in the heart of this Kerala capital when postal employees were sorting letters for delivery.

One letter bomb was defused by police at a post office. One exploded at Kesvadasapuram in a hardware shop later in the day when the shop owner opened a letter.

"Rajiv had sent a total of six letter bombs. Due to the postal delay, the remaining two letter bombs sent to addresses within the city went off last week," said the top police official.

A Christian flavour to Vijayadashmi

2006-10-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

As Hindus celebrate Vijayadashmi, the last day of Navratri celebrations, there will be a Christian flavour in Kerala.

Vijayadashmi is when many families initiate their children into the world of learning.

In recent times, as Hindus mark 'Vidyarambham' (commencement of learning), some Christians too have joined, in their own way.

On Monday, maximum crowds are expected in temples and at literary institutions, where eminent litterateurs and teachers would hold the hands of children and help them write Malayalam alphabets on a plate of rice.

The St George Orthodox Church here, which first held this programme three years ago, drew flak from a section of the laity for holding the ceremony in its premises. The event therefore is likely to be held at a daycare centre run by the church.

Media organisations, especially newspaper offices, have been holding such functions.

At the Malayalam Manorama's head office here, noted film personalities like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Sreekumaran Thampi, National Award winner Murali, eminent poet and writer O.N.V. Kurup and Kerala University Vice-Chancellor M.K. Ramachandran Nair are to initiate children into writing their first alphabets.

A leading personality who will be missed this year is veteran poet Ayappa Panicker, who helped six orphans write their first alphabets in 2005. Panicker passed away in August.

New book to promote Kerala as holiday destination

2006-10-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

A comprehensive book on Kerala that includes some 1,300 pictures has hit the market.

The 816-page volume, claimed to be the first of its kind among destination books, captures the beauty of the land, the people, their culture, dances, festivals and everyday life.

The National Geographic Traveller has rated Kerala as "one of the paradises of the world".

"I always thought Kerala is beyond description, beyond explanation... it is impossible to capture the extraordinary beauty of Kerala... through books, pictures or even cinema. But, now, Stark World has done the impossible through their book Stark World - Kerala. This is a book that makes me proud of being a Keralite. This is a book that I can proudly gift to my friends across the world as the finest portrayal of Kerala," actor Mohanlal said while releasing the book in Kochi last week.

According to P N Shanavas, publisher of the book, it took 24 months to put together some 60 writers, 12 consultants and 12 photographers to finish the work.

"A team of designers and imaging experts has worked with great devotion to produce this book divided into 11 sections," he said.

The book has 27 maps that follow international cartography norms, with five types of maps covering the state, city, district, destination and circuit along with a detailed backwater map.

"We have also been successful is gaining 48 impressions of Kerala from renowned personalities like writers Shashi Tharoor, M T Vasudevan Nair and Anita Nair; journalists Ramachandra Guha, C P Ravindran and Anita Pratap; actors Mohanlal, Mammooty and Meera Jasmine; painter Yousuf Arakkal, and Arne Walther, secretary general of the International Energy Forum," he said.

The sponsors of the book include India Tourism, Kerala Tourism, CGS Earth and Geojit Securities. Partnering the book are Adobe and The Blue Yonder.

Part of the proceeds from the book will go towards four non-profit organisations: Lullaby@Varkala, a socio-tourism project involving play schools and tourists; Thanal which spearheaded the internationally acclaimed Zero Waste Kovalam (ZWK) programme; Nila Foundation which aims to revive and regenerate the River Nila, and the World Environment Protection Programme whose legendary founder Abdul Kareem created his own forest out of barren wastelands.

"Though Lonely Planet and others had published interesting books on Kerala and Kerala Tourism’s own publications are widely acclaimed, it was important to have a book that would comprehensively address the interests of the casual reader well as that of the deeply serious as traveller," Stark Communications chairman T K Harshan said

Kerala-Tamil Nadu dam row takes a new twist

2006-10-01T19:08:00.000-07:00

A new twist has been added to the long simmering row over the 112-year-old Mullaperiyar dam with Tamil Nadu putting up a board at the dam site barring any "trespass" into the dam site.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan slammed the move as "ridiculous" and said Kerala was not going to fall into the trap to create provocation.

It was simply ridiculous that a board had been placed (by Tamil Nadu) at the land owned by Kerala even after the Supreme Court had asked the two states to settle the dispute over raising the water level through talks, Achuthanandan told reporters yesterday.

He was replying to questions on reports that Tamil Nadu had put up a board at the dam site cautioning against trespassing into the area.

While Kerala was against raising the water level of the reservoir above 136 feet on safety grounds, Tamil Nadu wanted the water level to be raised to 142 feet.

Stay at home in Kerala

2006-09-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Keralites are literally throwing open their doors to tourists, converting portions of their houses into 'homestays', to give visitors an authentic experience of life in this lovely state.

'Homestays' are expected to be the next big 'tourism product' coming out of Kerala, which has been ranked by national geographic as among the 50 'must see' destinations in the world.

'Hotels are the same all over the world. But, when you come and stay with a family under the same roof, maybe eat with them and share stories, the experience is totally different,' says Rani John Tharakan of Ayanat House.

Rani and husband John Tharakan began hosting people in their seven room, 70-year-old house in Alappuzha district last year. Three rooms are let out to tourists at a tariff of Rs 4,500 per day for a couple, including three meals and activities like boating and fishing.

Home-cooked meals are a big draw for tourists, who sometimes come into the kitchen to see how a particular dish is made, says Anuja Kurian, a catering institute graduate. She ends up giving informal cooking demonstrations to those staying at their home in the 154 acre Kalaketty rubber estate in Kanjirapally of Kottayam district.

Asked why they decided to open their home to outsiders, Rani says they were not using the entire house, in which a joint family once lived. They thought it would be nice to let it out to tourists. 'It keeps the place alive and of course brings in additional income.'

Anuja says privacy is ensured for both hosts and guests at their plantation as visitors are accommodated in an outhouse.

According to Thomas, whose parents run a homestay 'Nazarani Tharavad', some portions of which are more than 200 years old, hosting visitors is a good way for them to have company.

With Kerala beginning to face a shortage of rooms during peak tourist season, homestays could well be the answer. According to Jose Dominic, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society, the state needs to add at least 1,000 rooms every year to meet the demand-supply gap.

Homestays not only provide a solution to the accommodation problem but are also a tourism product by themselves. 'A lot of tourists, specially from the West, come to India looking for an authentic experience of the land and its people. They are not seeking five star luxury, only a clean and nice ambience, and homestays provide both.'

While people from other Indian states sometimes prefer a homestay, it is mostly foreigners who make a beeline for them.

According to Dominic, there are at present about 650 homestays in Kerala and their number is growing at about 20 per cent per year.

At the ongoing Kerala Travel Mart 2006 here, a large number of first time participants are homestay owners, he says.

While some homestay owners turn to travel agents, others have set up websites or are recommended by people who have stayed with them.

Coke gets fresh fizz of life in Kerala

2006-09-30T16:49:00.000-07:00

In what came as a breather of sorts for Coca Cola plant at Plachimada in Kerala's Palakkad district, the Perumatty Panchayat on Friday renewed the plant’s temporary license for three months.

But the relief comes with many stringent conditions attached.

“Thirteen conditions have been raised before them before giving the license. They have to fulfill that,” said Panchayat Secretary Hridayaraj.

The Panchayat, under which Plachimada falls, wants the Coca Cola Company to produce a certificate from a Central Government laboratory, proving its products contain no residues of pesticides or harmful elements like cadmium and lead.

The certificate is to be produced within 15 days.

“The cola company itself has admitted that the coals contain pesticide residue. We have asked them to bring the certificate from a central government lab,” said Panchayat President, Risha Prem Kumar.

The temporary license also says the plant cannot draw water from within the Panchayat limits, as water from here can only be used for home and agricultural purposes.

The plant has been virtually dysfunctional for the last few years following protests by the villagers and anti-cola groups, who allege it is contaminating the ground water in the area.

“They make our water poisonous. We won't allow it,” says a resident Kanniamma.

The Panchayat had imposed similar conditions when it originally issued the temporary license in January this year.

The decision to renew the license comes just a week after the Kerala High Court ordered the lifting of a state-wide ban on the sale and manufacture of colas.

Kerala police inspect Christian retreat centre

2006-09-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

The Muringur Divine Retreat Centre, billed as Asia's biggest Christian retreat centre, was Saturday subjected to a surprise inspection by the Kerala police and state health department officials here.

The inspection team detected irregularities in the centre's treatment of patients suffering from depression and alcoholism.

'The medical team will now submit a report and nothing more can be revealed because it would affect the probe,' said a state police official.

The raid comes after the Kerala High Court asked senior police official Vincent Paul in March to submit a report on allegations of criminal activities, three alleged murders and foreign funding at the retreat.

The high court decided to conduct the inquiry after complaints from a former women employee at the centre who claimed she was harassed.

Father Paul Thelakat, spokesperson of the Syro Malabar Church, told IANS that he was 'not aware' of the happenings at the centre because he has been there just once.

'I am hearing about this raid only through you, so I am unable to comment,' he added.

The centre comes under the Ernakulam Archdiocese of the Syro Malabar Church.

People of all religions from across the country participate in the prayer sessions conducted here.

Kerala dissatisfied by agricultural allocation

2006-09-30T16:47:00.000-07:00

Kerala Saturday said the funds sanctioned by the central government to overcome the state's agricultural crisis were 'insufficient'.

State Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told reporters that his government had submitted a Rs.56.65-billion agriculture revival proposal to visiting Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar earlier this month, but was promised Friday a mere Rs.7.65 billion.

'This is a pittance,' he said, adding: 'But we are happy we at least got this much.'

'In the past, the centre always ignored the demands of the state. What has been sanctioned now has happened because of my government's perseverance,' Achuthanandan said.

The state's proposal included a Rs.34.12 billion revival package for five drought-affected districts - Palakkad, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Idukki and Alappuzha - and Rs.22.53 billion for the agriculture sector.

Over 500 suicides have been recorded in the state, especially Wayanad and Idukki districts, since 2001.

Kerala had also demanded Rs.3.5 billion for takeover of nearly 22 tea factories in the private sector where more than 25,000 employees are without jobs.

'The centre has, however, said that we could look for more - especially for Idukki and Alappuzha districts for which nothing has been allocated now. They have also said that we could get funds for the revival of the now closed down tea factories,' said Achuthanandan.

He added that such aid was a temporary relief and 'the need of the hour is to correct the wrong import policies of the country that have been drawn up on the basis of the World Trade Organisation's compulsions'.

'The state is losing Rs.70 billion every year on account of the drop in prices of cash crops of the state due to such wrong policies. Our party wants the federal policies with regards to imports corrected and that is the only permanent solution,' the chief minister said.

Old houses get new life in Kerala

2006-09-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

Blending the modern and traditional, dilapidated 'manas' and 'tharavads' (traditional homes) in Kerala are being renovated to suit the tastes of tourists and packaged with Ayurvedic treatments.

The 500-year-old Poomully Mana at Peringode in Kerala's Palakaad district has been renovated and is being used as a heritage Ayurvedic treatment centre with all facilities to suit modern lifestyles without losing sight of traditional values.

All the traditional Ayurvedic treatments are administered in the special 'Poomully way' which follows the texts and documents of the ancient sages, says Sajeev Kurup, president and CEO of the 'Ayurveda Mana', which has been showcased at the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM).

A variety of treatments for panchkarma, beauty care, weight loss, arthritis, spondylitis, slipped disc, backache, sports injuries and various other skin diseases and diabetes are all available here, Kurup said.

Treatments for cancer, infertility, arthritis and rheumatism are also available.

Among the facilities are 12 heritage rooms with antique furniture, expert Ayurvedic physicians and an Ayurveda diet menu prepared at the mana and Yoga rooms.

Kurup, who had signed a JV with the Aram Thampuran family, said he had renovated the ancient mana at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh. They were also looking at other such heritage properties.

The herbal plants used for various treatments are grown at the mana farm itself. The three-storeyed mana has eight rooms and 12 treatment rooms. It has a restaurant with dining facilities for 16 persons.

Kurup said they were also looking at the 160-year-old Kurungad mana for developing it as an Ayurvedic heritage centre.

Poomully Neelakandan Namboodiripad, renowned as Aram Thampuran, was a legend in his lifetime. He was an authority in the diverse disciplines of Ayurveda, Kalarippayat (martial art), Yoga and other performing arts.

Aram Thampuran of Poomully mana became the last word in Ayurveda treatment. (Agencies)

Minister confirms chikungunya deaths in Kerala

2006-09-30T16:44:00.000-07:00

Kerala Health Minister P K Sreemathy yesterday confirmed that all the 48 fever-related deaths reported in Alappuzha recently were of chikungunya, a day after she was corrected by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan in the State Assembly.

"What the chief minister said was correct. All the deaths were due to chikungunya," she told a news conference here yesterday.

At least 300 people have died of chikungunya in the past three months in several Indian states but doctors and health officials in Kerala have been saying that they could not confirm any death in the state due to the disease, which is a rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus.

Achuthanandan corrected the minister in the Assembly on Thursday after she reported the officials’ findings of the doctors to the House.

A latest report from the federal health ministry said that nearly 1mn people had been affected by the disease across the country and it had killed 300 of them.

Health officials in Kerala said nearly 40,000 people were suffering from acute forms of viral fevers in Alappuzha district, home to the chief minister.

But the health minister informed the house on Thursday that the government was yet to reach a conclusion whether the deaths were caused by the chikungunya.

Health officials have collected blood samples of people hit with the viral fever to determine whether it is chikungunya while the government has decided to give financial aid of Rs25,000 each to the families of those who have died due to suspected chikungunya disease.

Chikungunya is a relatively rare form of viral fever caused by an alphavirus that is spread by mosquito bites and it is generally not fatal. Symptoms include fever which can reach 390C, a petechial or maculopapular rash usually involving the limbs and trunk, and arthralgia or arthritis affecting multiple joints which can be debilitating. They could also include headache, conjunctival infection and slight photophobia.

According to Achuthanandan, health department officials had misled the minister and, following contradictory reports, he had decided to garner firsthand information and visited the hospitals in Alappuzha district to be convinced.

"The symptoms described by the patients and their helpers prove they are affected by chikungunya and not suffering from water-borne diseases as has been reported," he said.

This was in contradiction to Sreemathy’s statement that most of the deaths were actually due to leptospirosis, heart diseases or underlying diseases of the liver or kidney.

"As per the medical investigations into the reported deaths due to chikungunya in Cherthala, most of those who died were suffering from chronic diseases, which were further complicated by the onset of viral fever," she had said, adding that reports saying people were dying due to chikungunya would only serve to create panic among the public.

She, however, said yesterday that all measures, including redeployment of extra medical and paramedical staff, provision of medicines and mosquito control measures had been adopted in all areas from where the disease has been reported.

"Teams of medical experts, including entomologists and epidemiologists, have already been deployed at the affected areas in Cherthala for detailed investigations into the outbreak," she said.

"Sustained vector control programme is the only way in which the disease can be contained and this has to be achieved with community participation. Steps are being taken to intensify fogging and source reduction measures in affected districts," she said.

Meanwhile, four more deaths were reported from Cherthala yesterday afternoon and 1,752 new cases of the fever were reported. The health minister also visited the affected areas, her third visit in a week.

Kerala eyes mineral water biz

2006-09-28T08:06:00.001-07:00

Kerala’s Left Democratic Front government has plans to take on the cola giants on another turf—bottled mineral water—and is sure that it can give Pepsi and Coke stiff competition in this business. Coke owns the Kinley mineral water brand, and Pepsi Aquafina.

The LDF government is eyeing the lush river-springs in hilly districts for setting up the mineral water plants for Kerala Water Authority (KWA). “We can give private mineral water brands a run for their money,” says Kerala Water Resources Minister NK Premachandran.

“KWA will be able to produce and sell mineral water at highly competitive prices,” he said. Kerala’s per capita rainfall at 300 mm is among the highest in the country, but 85% of the water is lost in six months through poor management.

The state government is still awaiting a detailed project report. But that has not deterred MLAs from vying with one another to convince Premachandran that their constituencies are the right pick for the proposed water plants.

For KWA, reeling under Rs 1160 crore of accumulated losses, this proposal is seen as a desperate move. For every kilo-litre produced at a cost of Rs 8, it can sell water at only Rs 3.

Vested lobby behind Jaimala conspiracy

2006-09-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

Kerala's Devasom Minister G Sudhakaran on Thursday alleged certain vested interests at the Travancore Devasom Board (TDB) in Thiruvananthapuram are behind actress Jaimala's revelation that she touched the idol at the famed Sabarimala temple.

"Her revelation that she touched the idol of Lord Ayyappa years ago is unwarranted, untrue and unwanted and one that tarnishes the prestige of the temple," Sudhakaran said.

The temple, situated in the Western Ghats in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, is out of bounds for women aged between 10 and 50.

Sudhakaran said the truth would be known soon when he discusses the report of a police probe with Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan.

The probe by the crime branch reportedly indicates the episode was a conspiracy.

"If she (Jaimala) is a true devotee of Lord Ayyappa she would not have dragged the temple into the present controversy. Sabarimala, of late, has been drawing a huge number of devotees and the South Indian lobby is worried because of this," said Sudhakaran.

He said vested interests have exploited the difference of opinion between the TDB (custodian of the temple) and the thantri (priest).

"The forest mafia is also conspiring to defame the temple as a drop in the number of devotees will allow them to go on freely with their illegal trade," the minister said.

Regarding entry of women in the temple, he said the constitutional obligation following a high court judgement that women in the age group 10-50 only should be allowed inside is being honoured.

Capturing the beauty of Kerala

2006-09-28T08:03:00.000-07:00

Numerous destination books on Gods Own Country have hit the stalls over the years, but this comprehensive volume on Kerala is unique as it is a coffee-table book blended with a destination book.

Superstar Mohanlal recently released "Stark World-Kerala", the 816-page volume that includes 1,300 pictures that capture extraordinary beauty of Kerala — the land, the people, culture, dances and festivals.

"This is a book that makes me proud of being a Keralite. This is a book that I can proudly gift to my friends across the world as the finest portrayal of Kerala," Mohanlal said in his remarks.Divided into 11 sections, the book has 27 maps that follow international cartography norms.with five types of maps covering State, District, Destination and Circuit along with a detailed backwater map.

As many as 48 impressions of Kerala from renowned personalities such as Sashi Tharoor, M.T. Vasudevan Nair, Mohanlal, Mammootty, Anita Nair

Anita Pratap, Louba Schilde, Jug Suraiya, Jose Dominic, Yusuf Arakkal, T. Balakrishnan and E.K. Bharat Bhushan figure in the book.

India Tourism, Kerala Tourism, Cgh earth and Geojit are the sponsors of the book. Partnering the book are Adobe and The Blue Yonder.

Part of the proceeds from the book will go towards four non-profit organisations — Lullaby@Varkala, Thanal that spearheaded Zero Waste programme in Kovalam, Nila Foundation and World Environment Protection Programme.