The Hindu : Kerala News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 23, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Facilities to file VAT returns

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM FEB. 22. The Government proposes to set up facilities at the taluk level to enable the traders to submit their value-added tax (VAT) returns. The Finance Minister, Vakkom B. Purushothaman, who was addressing a meeting convened here today to discuss the problems of difficulties of the trading community said that the turnover ceiling of small traders who come under VAT had been raised from Rs. 2 lakhs. It was now Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 50 lakhs. It was done to help them to the maximum. He also offered to take steps to end the harassment by officials. He said that the jewellers would not have to face any problem if they prepared their bills fairly.

Exempted from treasury curbs

Some more items have been excluded from the treasury restrictions till February 28. They include salary, wages, pension, including arrears and leave surrender, bonus, special festival allowance, festival allowance, TP account checks given by blocks and district panchayats till January 31, PD accounts of the FRIENDS, LIC cheques for deduction from salary, salary, pension and fuel expense of the KSRTC, working fund cheques, all cheques of hospital development committees and TA advance of police and police telecommunication staff deputed for Sabarimala duty.

`Demands Day' observed

The BSNL executives observed today as `Demands Day' as part of a countrywide agitation against the delay in implementing "agreed time bound promotion policy." The United Forum of BSNL Executives organised a demonstration in front of the Chief General Manager's office. It was addressed by the forum leaders, K. Sreekumaran Nair, G.N. Hariharan Nair and T.N. Vargheese among others.

Change of accommodation

The Railways have restored the facility of converting the lower class accommodation to higher class in all express and mail trains. According to a release here, passengers who desire to travel in higher class can purchase a lower class ticket and convert the same to a higher class in the train subject to availability of accommodation.

Assistant Solicitor General

Kochi Feb. 22. The Central Government has re-designated the Senior Central Government Standing Counsel, John Varghese, at the Kerala High Court as Assistant Solicitor General of India.

U.S. passengers sent back

Nedumbassery FEB. 22. Two American passengers who arrived at the Cochin International Airport here early this morning were sent back for not holding proper visas. Michael Lance and Marshal Helema Valerie from New York came here on an Air India flight, AI 690, at 2.30 a.m. They reportedly arrived here for undergoing treatment. They were asked to wait at the transit lounge. Emigration officials, later, asked the airline company to take them back. They were sent back by the Air India flight, AI 935, at 1.30 p.m.

German

transit visa

Passengers from India travelling to foreign countries via Germany will now have to take German transit visa. The new rule will come into force this Friday. Passengers will have to incur an additional cost of Rs. 3,000 on various heads for securing the transit visa. Applications for transit visa should be submitted to the German consulate in India. However, those bound for the U.S., the U.K., Japan, Turkey and Korea need not apply for transit visa if they possess resident visas.

Resignation sought

KOLLAM Feb. 22. The district council meeting of the Kerala NGO Association has called for the resignation of the association State president, P.K. Ravindran. In a statement here, the association leader B. Reghu said the demand was being raised owing to Mr. Ravindran's alleged involvement in activities detrimental to the association. The statement said that if Mr. Ravindran fails to resign, action should be taken to remove him from the post. The meeting was attended by the association leaders Poovattur Ravi, A. Abdul Rashid, A.V. Sasidhara Kurup and E. Harris among others.

Institute opened

The Technical Advisor of CMS Computers Limited, N.T. Nair, today inaugurated the student branch of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) at the Amrita School of Engineering at Amritapuri, near here. In his inaugural address, Mr. Nair stressed the need of continuing education for making engineers competent enough for the new industrial scenario.

Journal release

PATHANAMTHITTA FEB. 22. Perumpadavom Sreedharan, writer, will release the journal, Anpoli, brought out by the Malayalam Department at the NSS College, Pandalam, on Thursday. The Water Resources Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, would release the book `Madhura' written by Pazhakulam Subhash on the occasion.

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