Bureau of Economics and Statistics and Non-Resident Keralite Affairs Department would jointly conduct a State-wide household survey to collect details of expatriates from May 1.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy announced this while briefing newspersons after a meeting of the State Cabinet on Wednesday.

VITAL IMPORTANCE

The State Government has sanctioned Rs 1.95 crore for the conduct of the survey. The Chief Minister requested cooperation from all households and asked them to furnish correct information.

This is of vital importance from the viewpoint of addressing concerns of the expatriates, especially since no sufficient data was available.

The Cabinet decided to reissue five ordinances that could not be passed in the last Assembly session. Among these, the Abkari Amendment Ordinance 2013 will be issued with modification.

As per this, Rs 3 lakh will be charged if a partnership firm or a company running a hotel business reconstitutes partnership without permission of the commissioner (Rs 25,000 applicable until now).

AWAS YOJNA

In another decision, primary cooperative banks, district cooperative banks and the State Cooperative Bank have been authorised to lend to block panchayaths at 11.15 per cent under Indira Awas Yojna.

Simultaneously, the amount that can be availed from the Indira Awas Yojna has been raised from Rs 75,000 to Rs 2 lakh, the Chief Minister said.

The panchayaths have also been given permission to take loans from district banks.

The Government has decided to revise the salary of State Housing Board and Cooperative Employees Pension Board, according them parity with that of Government employees.

The pay revision will be applicable with retrospective effect. The Chief Secretary has been asked to submit a proposal for ramping up road infrastructure at important cities reeling under severe traffic congestion. He will confer with different departments on the issue and come out with the proposal during the next meeting of the Cabinet.

It has been decided to construct a flyover at Edapally junction in Ernakulam, for which Rs 180 crore have been sanctioned.

>vinson.kurian@thehindu.co.in

comment COMMENT NOW