Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005 |
| Kerala | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Entertainment |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Kerala
By Our Special Correspondent
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 1. A project to ensure the availability of pollution-free drinking water from wells in the State is under the consideration of the Government, the Water Resources Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, told the Assembly today. Replying to questions from the members, he said that wells met 90 per cent of the drinking water needs of the population. A detailed project that combines techniques for rainwater harvesting and recharging of groundwater was proposed to be launched during this water year, starting in June, he said. Mr. Radhakrishnan said six ongoing irrigation projects remained to be completed. Long-pending projects for which it was difficult to get continued Central assistance, would be wound up. The Idamalayar project would be partially commissioned soon. The ongoing projects would be completed in a time-bound manner, he said.
Cleaning up river
The Centre had extended an aid of Rs. 18.5 crores for cleaning up the Pampa river, he said. The Government was in favour of setting up a Kerala River Development Authority to address the problem faced by rivers in the State. Spirit-smuggling In reply to questions, the Minister for Finance and Excise, Vakkom Purushothaman, said the Government was trying to tackle spirit-smuggling with the cooperation of the public. A meeting of trade union representatives and people's representatives had been called to discuss this. Spirit-smuggling was going on unchecked in the State, particularly across the inter-State border at Walayar, the Minister said. Some individuals had laid private roads through their house compounds for this purpose. As much as 1.6 lakh litres of illicit spirit had been seized and 53 vehicles seized during the last six months. Apart from confiscating vehicles, drivers and cleaners would be made accused in the smuggling case as a deterrent measure.
Corruption
While admitting that corruption was a serious problem in the Department of Excise, the Minister asserted that smuggling cases were being seriously pursued. Recently, the Government had turned down the advice of the Department of Law to release a seized vehicle. Mr. Purushothaman said 30,000 excise cases were pending in the courts and that many were ending in acquittals as the officials were overburdened.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Entertainment |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | The Hindu Images | Home |
Copyright © 2005, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
