The Hindu Business Line : Kerala Govt sanctions Rs 4.31 cr to build seawalls

The Cabinet took this decision in the wake of the damage caused by the huge waves that hit the coastal areas in nine districts of the State a couple of days ago.

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, told newspersons after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday that the amount would be given to the Irrigation Department to take up the necessary work.

The Government is reviewing the situation and will take steps to minimise the damage in the future, he said.

The Cabinet also decided to earmark 305 acres of revenue land at Kambakkallu in Idukki district for compensatory afforestation in lieu of forestland being allotted for developing facilities for Sabarimala pilgrims.

The Chief Minister had recently visited the remote hilly area, spread over 8,000 acres, which has become a haven for ganja cultivators. Apart from establishing its own surveillance and deterrent outfits, the State Government would seek the Central Narcotic Control Bureau's help to combat the menace, he said.

Referring to the statement made recently by the State Vigilance and Anti-corruption Bureau Director that the State Electricity Board had failed to furnish some files relating to a deal between the board and a Canadian firm, Mr Chandy said the Government had asked the Home Secretary to look into it. The bureau is conducting a probe into alleged corruption in the deal.

The Chief Minister said the Director should not have made an open statement on the matter. He said that just because the highest number of cases was related to the Revenue Department, it did not mean the department was steeped in corruption.

Mr Chandy termed as baseless the Opposition leader's charge that the Government had given a fee of Rs 2 crore to a consultant for framing an agreement with Dubai Internet City for the proposed Smart City in Kochi.

He said although the consultant was present in the initial stages of the discussions with the Dubai firm, it was not party to any deliberations in the later stages. And the consultant was not paid any fee, he said.

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