The Hindu : Front Page : KSEB to become company

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Friday, Aug 22, 2008
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KSEB to become company

Special Correspondent

Medical university to have its headquarters in Thrissur

V.S. Achuthanandan: KSEB will not be split into more than one company.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Cabinet on Thursday gave approval in principle for conversion of the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) into a company.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told the media that the Cabinet had approved the report of the committee constituted to recommend restructuring of the KSEB with the Power Secretary as convener. The Cabinet entrusted the Department of Power with the implementation of the recommendations of the committee.

The Chief Minister clarified that the KSEB would not be split into more than one company as demanded by the Centre. (The Centre had given extension of time several times for the State to comply with the provisions of the Electricity Act which envisaged corporatisation of State electricity boards and separation of functions).

Mr. Achuthanandan said the government could not provide subsidy to avoid surcharge on power consumption above 80 units. The higher cost for power was necessitated by the failure of monsoon, he said.

He said the Cabinet had approved the proposals to set up a medical university in the State with headquarters in Thrissur. Teaching and research in the allopathy, Ayurveda, homeopathy, Sidhha, and Unani systems of medicine would be brought under the new university. Special Secretary (Health) Usha Titus would be posted as its project director.

ESI medical college

The Cabinet granted clearance for the medical college proposed to be set up by the ESI Corporation at Parippally in Kollam district.

The Chief Minister announced that vegetables, pulses, tubers, banana, meat and fish would be brought under the food security programme in addition to paddy, milk and egg. Separate targets would be fixed for production of each item and elaborate campaigns would be launched to achieve them. District-level monitoring committees would be set up to coordinate the activities. A workshop for presidents of local self-government institutions and officials would be organised next month as the prelude to the implementation of the programme.

An electronic media division will be set up as part of the Department of Information and Public Relations. An office of Circle Inspector of Police will be sanctioned for Kodungalloor.

The Scheduled Castes Development Department will provide Rs.2 lakh to the family of Santhosh Kumar who was killed at Maruthumkuzhy by goons.

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