The Hindu Business Line : Govt plans database of non-resident Keralites

Thiruvananthapuram March 27 The Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, today said that administrative sanction had been given to the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (Norka) and the Centre for Development Studies (CDS) for setting up a database of non-resident Keralites.

Of the Rs 50-lakh sanctioned for the project, the first instalment of Rs 25 lakh had been advanced to the CDS, the Chief Minister told the State Assembly during question hour on Tuesday. The database will be set up within two years.

The Government had submitted proposals to the Centre for strengthening the IAS cadre in October 1995 and the IFS in February 2006. The proposals for strengthening the IPS cadre have not yet been submitted, he added.

Building tax

Building tax will be revised and residential houses given new door numbers, the Local Administration Minister, Mr Paloli Mohammed Kutty, informed the House.

Replying to questions, Mr Kutty said that the new numbering system would be introduced soon. Local self-government institutions (LSGIs) have been directed to step up tax collection as a means to garner funds for development projects.

Civic bodies will not be permitted to divert Plan funds to meet establishment expenses. More than 1,000 complaints were pending before the ombudsman for LSGIs.

The Government is planning to introduce a unified Town Planning Act, the Minister said. The Act will have provisions to protect heritage zones and also norms for constructing buildings in such zones, he said.

Electricity arrears

The Power Minister, Mr A.K. Balan, has said that the arrears in electricity charges due to the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) till December 31 last year stood at Rs 1,676 crore. While the civic bodies owed Rs 32.99 crore, the arrears of public sector undertakings (PSUs) had touched Rs 854.89 crore.

Various States purchasing power from the board had run up `outstandings' of Rs 18.76 crore. The arrears from individuals were Rs 66.90 crore; Government Departments Rs 137.49 crore, and private institutions Rs 565.28 crore.

The Industries Minister, Mr Elamaram Kareem, said that the Government had held discussions with six IT companies desirous of investing in the State and their units had since started functioning too.

Eight others had evinced interest to set up units, but could not progress due to space shortage in IT parks.