Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Biotechnology courses planned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government is planning to start new biotechnology and allied courses with the support of eight institutions, Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran has said.

Mr. Ratnakaran said in reply to questions in the Assembly on Wednesday that along with biotechnology, many allied courses have also been planned with emphasis on basic biology, agriculture, engineering and medicine from August 2008-09. An agri-polytechnic would be set up under Kerala Agricultural University. It has been proposed to start agri-technical courses too.

Electricity Minister A.K. Balan said that the State would get 266 MW power from the Koodamkulam nuclear power plant. Considering the hindrances in laying transmission lines, District Collectors have been directed to hold meetings comprising elected representatives, local people, and Power Grid Corporation and KSEB officials to clear the inhibitions about the transmission lines. Nuclear power would not be a solution to the power crisis in the State. The generation cost of nuclear power would be much higher than hydel power. A proposal to increase the depth of Peringalkuthu dam is being examined. The board is saving 10 lakh units through peak-hour load-shedding. A sum of Rs.344.53 crore was allocated for power generation during 2007-08. So far Rs.6,687 crore has been spent.

Minister for Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that no decision has been made on seeking aid from the Asian Development Bank for tourism development.

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