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Thursday, Sep 09, 2010
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Judicial probe into hooch tragedy

Special Correspondent

Rs.5 lakh to next of kin of those who died, Rs.4 lakh to those who lost eyesight

Paddy procurement price increased by Re.1
60 UP schools to be upgraded to high schools

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Cabinet has decided to institute an inquiry by a sitting judge of a High Court into the hooch tragedy in Malappuram district that claimed 23 lives.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told the media after a Cabinet meeting that the service of a sitting judge would be sought from the Kerala High Court for the inquiry.

A sum of Rs.5 lakh each would be given to the next of kin of those who died in the tragedy, and Rs.4 lakh each would be given to those who lost their eyesight. The government would meet the full expense for the treatment of those in hospitals. It would also meet the expenses for the education of the children of the dead.

Mr. Achuthanandan said the Crime Branch was investigating the case. Licensees and owners of the toddy shops had been arrested and charged with murder.

The Cabinet decided to promulgate an ordinance to raise the tax collectable from various State lottery operators selling lotteries in Kerala. The measure is proposed against the background of the reduction of number of draws of lotteries to one a week on orders of the High Court.

The Cabinet also decided to increase the procurement price of paddy from Rs.12 to Rs.13 a kg for the current season.

It sanctioned Rs.718 crore for the repair of State and district roads. The State had sought Rs.330 crore from the Centre for repair of national highways. The work would be taken up immediately.

The Cabinet approved a proposal to upgrade 60 government upper primary (UP) schools in the State as high schools this year under the Rastriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.

It decided to set up two Benches of the Kerala Administrative Tribunal in Thiruvananthapuram, including one with its chairman, and one in Ernakulam.

The toll being collected at the Kaniyampuzha bridge in Ernakulam district would be discontinued, as the specified period of 15 years for toll collection came to an end.

A statue of Kesari Balakrishna Pillai would be erected in Thiruvananthapuram on the 50th death anniversary of the journalist on December 18 this year. 3

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