The Hindu : Kerala News : Restrictions eased for plantations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 09, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Restrictions eased for plantations

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, DEC. 8. The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to allow plantations to use up to five per cent of their land for non-plantation purposes without inviting provisions of the Land Reforms Act.

The usage would be limited to tourism, floriculture and cultivation of medicinal plants and vanilla in an eco-friendly manner without harming the interests of the workers.

The Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, told press persons after the Cabinet meeting that the Government had consulted workers organisations before taking the decisions. They were in favour of the measure, as that would improve the profitability of the plantations. Legislation would be brought to give effect to the legislation, if necessary.

Automobile workers

The Chief Minister announced that the Cabinet had approved the Kerala Automobile Workers Welfare Fund Scheme aimed at providing pension and other benefits to the workers.

A separate department would be formed for tourism at the Secretariat, separating the administrative control of tourism from the General Administration Department. Political and protocol wings would remain with the General Administration Department.

The mother of the rower Sobhini, Rama Rajan, would be given employment as a Class IV worker at the Primary Health Centre in Kuttanad. Sobhini had committed suicide on account of poverty.

Hill authority

The Cabinet today approved proposals for constituting development authorities for hill and coastal areas and a development authority for Varkala.

Mr. Chandy, said that the formation of the hill and coastal development authorities and Varkala Development Authority were an election promise of the UDF Government, mentioned in its manifesto. It was recently included in the 100-day action plan of the Government.

An official release said that Rs. 1 crore would be sanctioned this year for the Hill Areas Development Agency.

It would be registered as a charitable society with the Chief Minister as the chairman and the Chief Secretary as convener. It would have a 16-member general council and a six-member executive.

The Agency would prepare roads, hospitals, educational and drinking water projects and help to carry them out. It would also draw up strategies to attract more investment to the areas and improve the efficiency of tribal welfare programmes.

As per the 1991 census, the hill areas spreads across 31 taluks covering 28,000 square kilometres and has a population of 1.44 crores.

Coastal agency

The Coastal Development Agency will have a seven-member governing body with the Chief Minister as chairman and a nine-member executive committee with the Fisheries Minister as chairman. It will have jurisdiction over 222 fishermen's villages in nine districts. A sum of Rs. 2 crores will be sanctioned for its initial expenditure.

The objectives of the Agency will include development of basic infrastructure in the coastal areas with special emphasis on drinking water supply, roads, health care and education.

Development of small fishing harbours and tourism projects will also be among the objectives of the body, an official release said.

The Varkala Development Authority will be formed under the provisions of the Town Planning Act.

It will have jurisdiction over Varkala and eight nearby panchayats.

The Authority would be giving emphasis to tourism development in the Varkala area including development of pilgrim tourism.

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