The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Excise duty for IMFL revised

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 13. The excise duty on Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) is being changed from ad valorem basis to specific duty basis. According to a notification issued today, this was being done to avoid revenue loss to the Government. The price of premium brands of liquor in the State was very high when compared to other brands owing to the ad valorem excise duty system. Also, the sale of these brands was coming down every year. The revised duty for IMFL excluding beer and wine of a value (per case) will be as follows: Rs. 235 and above but below Rs. 250 - Rs. 34.5 per proof litre, Rs. 250 and above but below Rs. 300 - Rs. 40 per proof litre, Rs. 300 and above but below Rs. 400 - Rs. 53 per proof litre, Rs. 400 and above but below Rs. 500 - Rs. 66 per proof litre, Rs. 500 and above but below Rs. 1,000 - Rs. 80 per proof litre and Rs. 1,000 and above - Rs. 100 per proof litre. According to the notification, a case meant 48 bottles of 180 ml each or 24 bottles of 375 ml each or 18 bottles of 500 ml each or 12 bottles of 750 ml each or nine bottles of 1,000 ml each or six bottles of 1,500 ml each. The notification will come into effect on April 1, 2004.

One-time settlement scheme

The Government has given the go ahead to the Kerala State Housing Board (KSHB) to implement a one-time settlement scheme to collect a sum of Rs. 135 crores due to it from various loan and hire purchase schemes. As part of the scheme, the Board has announced the waiver or reduction of items like default and penal interest for various groups. It has also announced incentives like five per cent reduction in the remaining principal amount for those who pay the instalments without any default if they want to close the account and reduction of the monthly interest rate by 0.5 per cent to those who pay their monthly instalments without any default. The scheme will be in force for six months from February 7. Payments can be made in one or more instalments during the period. Those involved in revenue recovery cases can also make use of the scheme.

Government bonds

The Government is issuing bonds worth Rs. 300 crores as part of the mobilisation of resources by it for development activities. The bonds will be sold through the branches of the Reserve bank here and in Mumbai on February 19. The deposits will be returned with an interest of 5.85 per cent in 2015.The half-yearly interests on the bonds will be paid on August 21 and February 21.

No load-shedding for Sivarathri

There will be no load-shedding in the State on February 18 on account of Sivarathri. This was announced by the Electricity Minister, K. Muraleedharan, here today.

Rajagopal to be in the fray

KOZHIKODE FEB. 13. The Union Minister of State for Defence, O. Rajagopal, has said that the party leadership had asked him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the State. In an informal chat with presspersons here today, he said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre has been able to safeguard the interests of minorities as well as provide steady economic growth in its five-year rule in the country. The propaganda unleashed by the enemies of the party would not work in the general elections also, just like it had failed to evoke any response against the BJP in the recently concluded Assembly elections. The five-year NDA rule also saw the strengthening of federalism in the country unlike the 40 years of Congress rule. The NDA Government also gave top priority to bettering its ties with regional parties. The CPI(M) and the Congress, which were criticising the BJP, should fight the Lok Sabha polls united instead of being pitted against each other in the State.

SFO conference

KOLLAM Feb. 13. The Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), an international order of the Catholic Church for the laity, would hold its national elective chapter in Kollam from February 16 to 18. More than 100 delegates from 27 regions in the country would attend the chapter. In a statement here, the general convener of the event, John P. Fernandez, said the chapter would take stock of the present situation of the SFO vis-a-vis the modern challenges for its plans to establish peace and harmony through development. A three-year action plan would be presented and adopted for implementation, he said

Action demanded

The Confederation of Residents Associations, Kollam, has demanded the police to take action against those autorickshaw drivers who fail to operate fare meters. In a memorandum submitted to the Kollam Superintendent of Police, S. Sreejit Kumar, the association said some autorickshaw drivers were fleecing the travellers. Those who protest were abused and threatened. While most of the autorickshaws were yet to install meters, even those that had meters installed fail to operate them. In fact operation of fare meters had never been a practice in Kollam, the memorandum said.

Telecom adalat

The next telecom adalat for subscribers in Kollam district would be held during the third week of March. Complaints to be taken up for the adalat should be submitted on or before February 27 to the Assistant Manager (Operations), Telecom GM's Office, Kadappakada, Kollam.

Copy-writing contest

The Kerala Advertising Agencies Association has invited entries for the Kollam district-level copy-writing contest. The competition was being conducted as a prelude to the State-level competition. Those interested should contact the Parasyavedi Advertising, Mithila, Sasthri Junction, Kollam-1 (phone: 9447174177)

Vasthu vidya seminar

A Vasthu Vidya Seminar organised by the Bharatheeya Vasthu Vidya Padana Kendram would be held at the Sopanam Auditorium here on February 14. Those interested should register themselves at the venue by 9-30 a.m. (9447016999)

Elected

PATHANAMTHITTA Feb. 13. The Serifed chairman, Victor T. Thomas, has been elected the district president of the Kerala Congress(M). Mr Thomas was the former State president of the Kerala Youth Front(M) and the president of the Kozhencherry grama panchayat.

Ban on liquor sale

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Feb. 13. The sale of liquor has been banned within a radius of 1 km around the venue of the Maramon Convention from February 15 to 22. The Excise Minister, K. V. Thomas, said the outlet of the Beverages Corporation in Kozhencherry would also remain closed during the period.

Puthuppally peaceful

KOTTAYAM Feb. 13. The situation at Puthuppally, where the move by panchayat authorities to pull down an unauthorised structure which was being used as a place of worship had created a tense situation on Thursday, was normal today. The panchayat authorities had threatened to demolish the structure today and had sought police protection. However, their move was thwarted by those who were using the structure.

Camp on women's writing

THRISSUR Feb. 13. The pressures of life affect the creativity of women writers, the litterateur, Sara Joseph, has said. Inaugurating a camp on women's writing, organised by Ankanam here on Friday, Ms. Joseph said women got very little time for their individual pursuits, and, hence tend to be less creative than men. P. V. Krishnan Nair, secretary, Kerala Sahitya Akademi, Akbar Kakkattil, Ashokan Charuvil, C. V. Sreeraman and A. S. Priya, writers, and R. I. Shamsuddin, chairman, Ankanam, also spoke.

Antony to open bridge

ALAPPUZHA Feb. 13. The Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, would inaugurate the Cherthala-Puthur bridge at a function at Cherthala on February 16, at 6.30 p.m. The Minister for Public Works, M. K. Muneer, would preside. The District panchayat president, C. S. Sujata, and the former MP, V. M. Sudheeran, would speak.#EOM

Inauguration of road

The Minister for Public Works, M. K. Muneer, would inaugurate the PWD road from Kainakary jetty to AC Road at a function at Kainakary on February 16 at 3 p.m. The MLA, D. Sugathan, would preside over the function. MLA, K. K. Shaju, and the district panchayat president, C. S. Sujata, will speak.

Trade fair begins

KASARAGOD Feb. 13. The four-day exhibition-cum-sale of household articles, under the auspices of the Indian Trade Fair Foundation (ITFF), got underway at the Muralimukund auditorium here this morning.

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