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Briefly

Workshop on road safety

ALAPPUZHA: The Lions Club of Alleppey Greater is organising a workshop on `Road Safety - A Call for Action' in association with the National Service Scheme of University of Kerala, the NATPAC, Search Vandanam and Department of Community Medicine of TD Medical College, Alappuzha at Ramavarma District Club here on December 7 at 9.30 a.m. NATPAC director T. Elangovan would deliver the key-note address. - Staff Reporter

Purana recital ritual

ALAPPUZHA: The `Varaha Purana' recital yajnam would be held at the Chettikulangara Devi temple from December 15 to 26, said the office-bearers

of Sri Devi Vilasom Hindumata Convention, which organises the yajnam. The yajnam will begin at 6 p.m. on December 15 with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp, said Chenkilil Rajan, president of the convention. The recital would commence at 5.30 a.m. on all days. On the concluding day, a ceremonial procession would be held from the temple to the Kattuvallil Sri Dharma Sashta temple in the evening. — Staff Reporter

ATM at Cooperative Bank

KOLLAM: The Kollurvila Service Cooperative Bank here becomes the first primary cooperative bank in the State to have the ATM facility. At a press conference here on Tuesday president of the bank Anzar Rahim said that facility will be inaugurated by Minister for Cooperation M.V. Raghavan, on December 8. — Staff Reporter

Counselling programme

KOLLAM: The Family Counselling Centre attached to the Kollam YMCA is organising a special counselling programme for students from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The counselling is mainly for those students with learning disabilities, suiicidal tendencies and family problems. Details can be availed from the YMCA general secretary, N.V. Eldo, on phone numbers 2744694 and 2746912. — Staff Reporter

Building inauguration

KOLLAM: The new building of the Peroor Service Cooperative Bank will be inaugurated by Minister for Cooperation M.V. Raghavan on December 15. P. Rajendran, MP, and president of the Kollam District Cooperative Bank P. Rajendran will address the inaugural function. — Staff Reporter

No title will be granted illegally: Mani

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revenue Minister K.M. Mani said here on Tuesday that he would protect the interests of farmers living on the Cardamom Hill Reserves (CHR) in Idukki district even if Leader of the Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan raised objections. In a rejoinder to the press conference conducted by Mr. Achuthanandan in Kottayam, the Revenue Minister said that Mr. Achuthanandan's move to undermine the Government's efforts to help the farmers "is ridiculous and deplorable." Mr. Mani said that blanket opposition on the issue was meaningless. The Government was taking a strong stand to prevent the eviction of small farmers, who constitute 80 per cent of the population, in the CHR area. But Mr. Achuthanandan was adopting an anti-farmer stand that the CHR area was not cultivated land but forest area. His allegation that the Government was trying to give titles to large holders was part of a move to tarnish the image of the Government. "The Government will not grant title to any person illegally. — Special Correspondent

Municipal chairman election

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The election to the post of chairman of the Palakkad Municipality will be held at 10 a.m. on December 19. State Election Commissioner N. Mohandas took a decision to this effect here on Tuesday in accordance with the directive of the High Court.

Preliminary inquiry ordered

THRISSUR: Vigilance Enquiry Commissioner and Special Judge M.V. Viswanathan has directed the Vigilance Director to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations of irregularities in the awarding of the contract for laying pipeline for the drinking water scheme for Kochi.The complaint related to the works included in the "ad hoc augmentation to Kochi Water supply scheme" at areas like Nirmala School Junction, Ernakulam. According to the complainant N. Suresh, who is also a contractor of the Kerala Water Authority, the contract was awarded to a firm which was not the lowest bidder leading to loss of Rs.75 lakhs to the exchequer. The judge in his order said that a preliminary vigilance inquiry was needed in this case to ascertain the genuineness of the allegations before ordering a detailed investigation as contemplated under Section 156 (3) of CrPC. — Staff Reporter

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