2011 ~ KERALA NEWS

2011 sent off in style

Sunday 01 January 2012: Against the backdrop of theme parties, live music and beach barbeques, the city bid adieu to 2011 on Saturday and ushered in the New Year.
At Kovalam, apparently the most preferred nightspot, hundreds of foreigners and locals mixed merrily under the watchful eye of the police. It was also, perhaps, one of the most taxing nights this year for over 600 policemen deployed to keep peace on New Year’s Eve.
Revelers made sand sculptures on the beach and danced to the tune of thumping music blaring from seafront hotels. At the stroke of midnight, crackers burst and fireworks illuminated the sky over the city. Merry makers greeted each other with hugs and hoarse cries of ‘Happy New Year.’
Mobile phone networks were flooded with a deluge of text messages, causing several to jam temporarily. Most hotels had organized theme parties and live music for their guests. Special seafood and barbeque counters were also set up in many eateries. Hundreds of believers welcomed 2011, listening to sermons and participating in midnight masses at various churches.

34 people die in Thane cyclone: Officials

Saturday, December 31, 2011: At least 34 people died when cyclone Thane hit southern India, officials said on Saturday as engineers rushed to restore power supplies knocked out by winds of up to 140 kilometres (85 miles) an hour.
Cyclone Thane lashed the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu state and the territory of Pondicherry on Friday, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction, officials from the affected regions said.
“The death toll has now reached 22 in Cuddalore,” district administrator V Amuthavalli said, adding that the toll is likely to rise.
“Approximately 50,000 (thatched) huts are damaged by the high winds but we will get a clearer picture of the damage later today,” the official said and added that people also reported to hospitals with injuries.
Most of the deaths occurred due to electrocution and walls collapsing in the coastal district. Five others died elsewhere in Tamil Nadu, other officials said in state capital Chennai.

Trains disrupted due to heavy rains in Tvpm

Saturday, 31 December 2011: Heavy rains continued to lash several parts of Thiruvananthapuram, disrupting rail service causing inconvenience to a lot of commuters. Train services on railways are running late by hours.
According to meteorological department heavy rains here, Thiruvananthapuram city recorded 182.0 mm of rainfall and Nedumangad received 160.4 mm of rainfall from on Saturday.

Sabarimala pilgrim dies in road mishap near Thenmala

Saturday, December 31, 2011: A Sabarimala pilgrim hailing from Tamil Nadu was killed when the vehicle in which the devotees were travelling lost control and overturned near Thenmala on Saturday morning around 5:30 am.
The deceased has been identified as Kalimuthu, hailing from Sivaganga. The accident occured near the Thenmala police station limits.
As many as 10 people were injured in the accident. They were going to Sabarimala from Sivaganga for Ayyappa darshan. According to police reports, overspeeding was the reason for the accident.

Major fire breaks out at Bevco outlet in Kollam

Saturday, 31 December 2011: A major fire broke out at beverages corporation outlet at Eravipuram in Kollam district on Saturday morning.
Several fire fighting units rushed to the spot and doused the fire. The cause behind the fire is still to be ascertained.

Govt announces solatium for kin of rain victims

Saturday, 31 December 2011: Five persons were killed in heavy rains across Kerala, following which Kerala Devaswom Minister VS Siva Kumar on Saturday announced a Rs 10,000 solatium to each of their families.
Minister also announced that Rs 1 lakh would be given for those who lost their houses in the rain.

Load shedding for 2 days in state, says Aryadan

Saturday, 31 December 2011: Electricity Minister Aryadan Muhammed said that load shedding would be enforced for 2 days in the state. As Neyveli is not suppling power, there is shortage of power in the state.
The Electricity Board is trying to sort out the issue. Hence there would be power disruption, said Aryadan Muhammed.

Two electrocuted in Thiruvananthapuram

Saturday, 31 December 2011: Two persons were electrocuted when they came in contact with an earth line near Attingal here on Saturday. The deceased have been identified as Lalithambika (75), and Nandana, sources said.
The police said the accident happened when Nandana touches the earth line while playing. The Lalithambika trying to save her were electrocuted and both died.

Karunanidhi asks Kerala Govt not to reduce dam level

Saturday, 31 December 2011: DMK President M Karunanidhi today told the Kerala government that any effort on its part to reduce the Mullaperiyar Dam water level and build a new one in its place would have to be viewed as an attempt to subvert judicial process and deny justice to the people of Tamil Nadu.
“This issue is now before the Supreme Court, and any effort by Government of Kerala to reduce the water level and attempt to construct a new dam has to be viewed as an attempt to subvert the judicial process and deny justice to the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said in a letter to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
It is unfair for Kerala to resolve to reduce the level to 120 feet even as a case is pending in the Supreme Court, he said, adding the Constitution and Apex Court “will objectively take care of the interests of all citizens of our country.”
Responding to Chandy’s December 28 letter, in which he had stated that the DMK leader was apprehensive of safety of Tamils and these were “inflated stories based on misinformation,” he said it was based on true incidents and widely reported in media.
“I want to reiterate these are not at all inflated stories based on misinformation, but based on true incidents, reported in various newspapers and shown live on TV channels,” he said.
Further, he had ‘ascertained’ the true situation with people in the affected areas, he said recalling his letter to the Supreme Court appointed empowered committee Chairman, seeking deployment of Central Forces at the dam.
On Chandy’s fears about the dam’s safety, he said the Apex Court’s 2006 order held it is strong, which the Centre too is in agreement with.

Entrance exams to be conducted early, says Minister

Saturday, 31 December 2011: The state government is planning to conduct the Medical and Engineering entrance exams early in the coming year, said Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb.

The minister said this decision has been taken as the students are depending on other states as they conduct the exams early and publish the rank lists. The ranks lists of the entrance exams would be published within the stipulated time.

Heavy rain lashes T’puram district

Saturday, December 31, 2011: The heavy rains and winds that lashed the district on Saturday early morning left in its wake, snapped power lines and flooded roads.
Roads were waterlogged in many places including the Thampanoor, SS Kovil road. Model school junction forcing vehicles to take diversions through narrow by-lanes.

Finance Minister KM Mani’s website launched

Friday, December 30, 2011: The official website of Finance and Law Minister KM Mani was launched here on Friday. The website has facilities for submitting complaints to the Finance Minister online.
Mani after inaugurating his website, has said that web cameras will be installed in six important check posts in the state. The functioning of checkposts will be made smooth, he said.
The development plan proposed by the Minister for Kerala can also be downloaded from the site (www.fm.kerala.gov.in).
The Finance Department has already introduced facilities for filing appeals on value added tax assessments online, and advance declaration of consignments online for speedy clearance through check posts. There are also plans for online registration of traders and remittance of tax deducted at source by contractors.

Mullaperiyar: Chandy writes to Karunanidhi

Friday, 30 December 2011: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today wrote a letter to DMK Chief M Karunanidhi.
In his letter, Chandy stated that people from Tamil Nadu were safe and rumours that Tamil people are unsafe in Kerala are baseless.

Petrol prices may go up by Rs 2.25 from Jan 1

December 30, 2011: State-run oil firms plan to raise petrol prices by about Rs 2.25 a litre from Sunday unless the government asks them to defer the move in view of assembly elections, company executives said.
Oil companies revise petrol prices every two weeks but in the middle of this month, the government told state firms to refrain from any increase as the move could cause uproar during the winter session of Parliament. As a result, the price rise would be relatively steeper as oil firms need to make up for the losses, they said.
Companies’ executives say that compared to the landed price of imported petrol, domestic rates need to be raised by Rs 1.90 per litre, excluding local taxes. “If the entire loss is passed on to the consumer, with 20% state duties, the fuel will be costlier by 2.28 a litre in the Capital,” one executive said. State levies vary from state to state.

Sikkim lottery banned in Kerala

Friday, December 30, 2011: The Central Government on Friday banned Sikkim lottery in Kerala. The State had earlier approached the Centre seeking ban on the lottery which had been functioning by violating lottery protection rules.
The lottery has been banned for two years. Following the ban, none of the lotteries of Sikkim Government can be sold in Kerala.

Cyclonic storm leaves six dead in TN and Puducherry

December 30, 2011: The very severe cyclonic storm, “Thane’, on Friday crossed the Tamil Nadu coast, leaving six persons dead and causing extensive damage to Cuddalore and the neighbouring Union Territory of Puduchery which remained cut-off from the nearby districts of the state.
Five persons died in Cuddalore in incidents of wall collapse and electrocution, officials said. A 45-year old man of Vanarampet village in Puducherry died in house collapse.
Train services hit
Train services from southern Tamil Nadu were hit as many of them ran late or were stopped in the nearby station while flights to international destinations by private carriers including to Kuwait and Malaysia from Chennai were cancelled.

Friday, December 30, 2011: The cyclonic storm Thane has moved westwards and lay centred about 130 km east of Puducherry and 150 km southeast of Chennai, the weather office said on Thursday night. The system is likely to move westwards and cross north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai, close to
Puducherry around early morning of Friday, a weather bulletin said.
Under the influence of this system, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would experience isolated extremely heavy rainfall of 25 cm or more, while isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalseema in the next 36 hours beginning 2030 hrs, it said.
Isolated heavy rainfall would occur over south Tamil Nadu.
Gale winds speed reaching 110-120 kmph gusting to 135 kmph is likely along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 24 hours.
Storm surge of about 1-1.5 metre height above the astronomical tide would inundate the low lying areas of Puducherry and Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram and Villupuram districts of north Tamil Nadu at the time of landfall.
“Sea condition is phenomenal along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts. Fishermen along north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & south Andhra Pradesh coasts are advised not to venture into sea during next 24 hrs,” it said.
The system is likely to maintain its intensity for 12 hours even after landfall and weaken gradually.Under its influence rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy fall is likely to continue over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in next 24 hours.
Gale or squally wind speed reaching 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph is likely over north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during 12 hours after the landfall.

Cyclone Thane: Jaya allots Rs 150 cr for immediate relief

Friday, December 30, 2011: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa alloted Rs 150 crore for immediate relief measures and directed four ministers to visit the districts which bore the brunt of cyclonic storm ‘Thane’.
After chairing a meeting with senior department officials, Jayalalithaa said on Friday that she had asked her Cabinet colleagues BV Ramana, TKM Chinnaiah, KA Jeyapaul and MC Sampath to visit Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Nagapattinam and Cuddalore districts, the worst hit by the storm which crossed the state coast in the morning.
She said the sum of Rs 150 crore would be used for immediate relief measures and for restoring basic infrastructure facilities.

Friday, December 30, 2011: The Public Service Commission (PSC) on Friday extended the tenure of the rank lists expiring tomorrow till April 30. The PSC took this decision after considering state government’s third recommendation seeking an extension.
The Government had recommended for extending the validity of rank lists to April 30. The PSC had expressed its inability to oblige to the government’s request for extending the tenure of rank lists.

Prisoner dies in Kozhikode Medical college hospital

Friday, December 30, 2011: A 71-year-old prisoner who was under treatment at the Kozhikode medical college hospital has died on Friday morning.
The deceased identified as Narayan, is an inmate of Kannur prison and a native of Kasargod, police told. He was admitted in the hospital after he developed heath related ailments, jail authorities informed.

Kottarakkara: 38 pilgrims injured as bus overturns

Friday, 30 December 2011: As many as 38 Sivagiri pilgrims were injured when a tourist bus overturned at the Injakkad near Kottarakkara on Friday morning.
The pilgrims were from Adimali vattappara SNDP branch. The injured have been rushed to the Kottarakkara Hospital. The condition of the pilgrim is reported to be stable.

Crack found on railway track in Malappuram

Friday, December 30, 2011: A crack was noticed on the railway line near Nilambur-Shoranur in Malappuram district on Friday morning.
As soon the crack was detected the railway authorities alerted the train services in the route and the repair works have begun. The Nilambur passenger train has been delayed following the repair works.

Govt to help Malayalees trapped abroad: Chandy

Friday, December 30, 2011: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday sought the co-operation of Non-Resident Keralite organisations in the government’s efforts to lend a helping hand to Malayalees trapped in foreign countries due to various reasons.
Inaugurating the Global NRK meet organised by NORKA (Non-Resident Keralite Affairs) department here, he said steps would be taken to bring back Keralites undergoing imprisonment abroad for no fault of theirs, those cheated by agents after offering them jobs and people suffering from various ailments.
The government would strive to get support of the Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs towards this end, he said.
Chandy asked NRKs to convince investors from foreign countries that there is a conducive atmosphere for investment in Kerala. The NRK meet had been convened to listen to the complaints and suggestions of Malayalees living abroad.
KC Joseph, Minister in Charge of NORKA, said the government is committed to ensure their welfare and would take steps to rehabilitate those who coming back from abroad.
He termed as just NRK’s demand that at least one Malayalee official be there in Indian embassies in the Gulf region.
Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said NRKs should help promote ‘Emerging Kerala 2012,’ the investment meet proposed to be held next year.
Finance Minister KM Mani, Ports Minister K Babu, Transport Minister VS Sivakumar and NORKA director and CEO Noel Thomas also spoke.

Woman held with 2 kgs of ganja near T’puram

Friday, December 30, 2011: The excise special squad has on Friday apprehended a 50-year-old woman with nearly 2 kilograms of ganja near Vamanapuram here on Friday morning.
The accused has been identified Heera, native of Chirayankeezhu, police told. The autorickshaw in which she was traveling was also taken into police custody. The woman was apprehended by an excise team headed by Inspector Mohanan Nair.

Rank lists’ validity: PSC to hold meeting today

Friday, December 30, 2011: PSC chairman Dr. KS Radhakrishnan has called for an urgent meet today to discuss the extension of validity of the PSC rank lists. The meeting will be held at 3pm today.
The Government had recommended for extending the validity of rank lists to April 30. But the meeting of the commission has decided not to extend the rank lists of which the term would end by December 31.
Meanwhile the state government on Thursday gave an ultimatum to the Public Service Commission (PSC) in connection with the extension of validity of the rank lists. Even though the government had recommended for extending the validity the request was turned down by the PSC.

Government ensures no voting for Lokpal, Rajya Sabha adjourned

NEW DELHI: The month-long Winter Session of the Lok Sabha, which witnessed turmoil on several issues including FDI in retail, was adjourned sine die today.

The session saw passage of several bills by the House, especially the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, and also witnessed the Government suffering embarrassment in the wake of the defeat of the Constitutional status for the anti-graft ombudsman.

'The government is running away because it does not have the numbers,' alleged the BJP's Arun Jaitley, the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. 'It has choreographed the debate in a manner that ensures it cannot be concluded today,' he added. 'We can pass the same bill as the Lok Sabha in two minutes,' countered Congress members.

The session witnessed stalling of House for nearly two weeks over various issues including FDI in retail and the opposition demand for an adjournment motion on the issue of price rise which was later accepted on a mutually acceptable wording.

No private member business could be taken up due to adjournments.

The NDA boycott of home minister P Chidambaram on the 2G issue, Mullaperiyar row and demand for separate Telangana led to tumultuous scenes during the session, which was extended by three days from December 27 to 29 to take up important bills, particularly the Lokpal Bill.

Rajya Sabha may not pass Lokpal Bill

ISM entrance test

The Indian School of Mines (ISM), Dhanbad will conduct its national-level entrance test for admission to two-year M.Sc. and three-year M.Sc. Tech programmes from 9 a.m. to noon on May 13. The test centres are Chennai, Hyderabad, New Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Varanasi, Dhanbad, Guwahati, and Kolkata.

Application forms and information brochures will be distributed from January 2. For getting the form by post, send a letter, along with a demand draft for Rs.1,350 (Rs.700 for applicants belonging to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and those physically challenged) drawn in favour of the Registrar, ISM, payable at Dhanbad, and a self-addressed unstamped A4-size cover, to the Deputy Registrar (Academic and Student welfare), Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad – 826 004.

Application forms and details can be downloaded from the website www.ismdhanbad.ac.in. The filled applications, along with documents, will be received till March 9.

Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras has invited applications for the Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination (HSEE) to be held from 10 am to 1 pm on May 6 for admission to its five-year integrated MA programmes in development studies and English studies.

There are 23 seats in each discipline. Students are allowed choose either of the disciplines after they get a wide exposure to humanities and social sciences during the first two years of the programme. They will be introduced to a variety of common subjects related to the two major disciplines offered from the third year.

The Chalakkudy police have registered a case against actor Kalabhavan Mani on the basis of a petition filed by a policeman named Umesh.

The petitioner alleged that during a Kaavadi procession of a local temple, where he was on traffic duty, he was injured in a scuffle with Kalabhavan Mani and was admitted to a nearby hospital. He also said that the police had to block Kalabhavan Mani's vehicle because of the procession.

KG1 student in Sharjah allegedly molested

SHARJAH: A school bus assistant has been arrested for allegedly molesting a four-and-a-half-year-old Indian girl just before the winter break.

Radhakrishnan Nair, principal of Sharjah Indian School (SIS), has confirmed that Sharjah Police arrested the Indian bus assistant on December 26, five days after the alleged sexual assault against the KG1 student on a school bus.

"The parents didn't come to us," said Nair. "They went to the police directly and the matter is under investigation. The police asked for him and took him away. They didn't tell us anything. If he's found guilty he should be punished."

KOTTAYAM: Truth has been exposed in the Kiliroor case, said CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan. Everybody was of the opinion that there was a VIP in the case, but now, he is missing. Some medias who wanted to stain the party is totally upset now. With this, the case has also ended, he said.

Inaugurating the CPI (M) district meet in Kottayam, Pinarayi said the Lokpal has been weakened due to the dirty game played by the Congress. That is why the corporates were not included in the bill.

Pinarayi attacked the congress and the government in dealing with the Mullaperiyar issue. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has predicted Supreme Court’s verdict in the case. Even Defence Minister A K Antony has washed his hands in the case.

Vilappil panchayat for legal redressal against Govt move

Thursday, December 29, 2011: Vilappil panchayat would seek legal redressal against the state government’s decision to stay their move to shut down Vilappilsala garbage treatment plant.
The Vilappil panchayat authorities informed that they had decided to close down the plant after passing a resolution against the garbage treatment plant which operating without a valid license.
Meanwhile as a temporary solution for the present garbage issue in capital city, the Corporation has initiated necessary steps to remove the heaps of garbage piling up in almost all the streets in the city.
The heaps of garbage are being collected from various streets of the city and are being buried in huge pits dug in the vacant land near the Killippalam, by-pass road, Karamana and Niramankara areas. The local residents in the areas have come up against the corporation’s move to bury the trash in the area.
Meanwhile the state government has stayed the Vilappil panchayat committee’s move to shut down garbage treatment plant in Vilappilsala. Soon after the closure of the treatment plant, garbage is piling up on almost all the streets in the city and the stench emanating from the waste has made life miserable for local people and passersby.
Rodents, mosquitoes, and flies thrive here. Garbage also lies accumulated in various parts of the town. The city dwellers opined that they fear an outbreak of contagious diseases like dengue fever, malaria etc.
Uncertainty is looming large over the garbage disposal in Thiruvananthapuram city with the Vilappilsala solid-waste treatment plant being shut down by the panchayat authorities.
With the residents of Vilappilsala kicking up a big stink over the garbage treatment plant and the city corporation deciding to stop collection of waste from flats, apartments and hotels, a major crisis regarding waste treatment is looming over the city.

Uncertainty prevails over Mullaperiyar dam issue

Thursday, December 29, 2011: As Kerala has slowed down in its clamour on the Mullaperiyar dam issue in the backdrop of a violent backlash against Keralites in Tamil Nadu and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s attempt to prevail upon Tamil Nadu for talks, confusion has gripped all around including political parties.
The apolitical Samara Samithi which had been spearheading the agitation for the past five years is also in a crisis with the ouster of Prof CP Roy from the chairmanship of Mullaperiyar Samara Samithi.
While the demand of Kerala for a new dam had been sidelined by the national political leadership as Tamil Nadu keeps opposing it tooth and nail and insists on a final court order on the issue, the political parties here are struggling for a face-saving formula.
The one-month lull in stirs on the Mullaperiyar issue by Kerala’s political parties has already resulted in mild tremors and aftershocks within the Kerala Congress (M), with Congress leaders privately criticising that the KC(M) had exceeded limits in the agitation at the very onset.
It is another matter that the Congress and even major Left political parties have been forced to up their ante after the blitzkrieg of Water Resources Minister PJ Joseph on the issue.

Govt to honour KJ Yesudas

Thursday, December 29, 2011: The Kerala Government has decided to honour music legend KJ Yesudas who has completed 50 years as a playback singer.
A lifetime achievement award would be presented to him considering his illustrious career, work for communal amity and social service, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a Cabinet meeting.
The Culture department would present the award, carrying a purse of Rs 1.5 lakh, memento and citation, he said.

15 theatres given ‘Platinum Grade’ in Kerala

Thursday, December 29, 2011: A total of 15 theatres in Kerala have been selected for ‘platinum grade’, for best projection, sound system, seating and maintenance in the report of theatre classification committees appointed by the government.
The classification committees in three regions examined the facilities at 399 theatres. The government would take steps to help promote these theatres, Minister KB Ganesh Kumar said after receiving the report. The theatres examined by the committees have been given different grades.
A total of 29 theatres were placed in second grade, 81 theatres were put in the third grade, 127 in fourth grade and 86 in the fifth grade. Anand Cinema theatre at Kottayam was chosen as the best theatre in the state.

Bangalore blast: Achuthanandan writes to Karnataka CM

Thursday, 29 December 2011: Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan today wrote a letter to Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda requesting to avail treatment for PDP leader Abdul Nazar Maudani, accused in the Bangalore blast case.
In his letter Achuthanandan requested that the trial proceedings against Abdul Nazar Maudani should not be extended. The police had named 32 people in the charge sheet in the blast case including PDP Chairman Abdul Nasser Maudani.
The prime accused is T. Nasir, said to be associated with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba. One woman was killed and 15 persons were injured when eight low-intensity explosions hit Bangalore on July 25, 2008.

400 detonators seized in Thrissur

Thursday, 29 December 2011: Around 400 detonators were seized at Injakkunnu in Thrissur district, the police said today. The detonators were found from hollow of a tree during the police raid.

Rank list: PSC calls for urgent meeting

Thursday, 29 December 2011: PSC chairman Dr. KS Radhakrishnan called an urgent meet to discuss the extension of validity of the PSC list. The meeting will be held on Friday at 3pm.
The Government had recommended to extend the validity of rank lists to April 30. But the meeting of the commission has decided not to extend the rank lists of which the term would end by December 31.

One killed as jeep overturns near Pathanamthitta

Thursday, 29 December 2011: Pathanamthitta, Thursday, 29 December 2011: One person was killed when a jeep overturned near wadakkanchery here on Thursday morning. The deceased has been identified as Abdul Latheef hailing from Chittar, source said.

Infant’s body found near Kollam

Thursday, December 29, 2011: The body of a new-born baby was found from the premise of a house near Anchal here on Thursday morning. The mother of the new born infant identified as Omana was taken into custody in connection with the incident.
The woman is being interrogated by the police team. The infant’s body has been shifted to the hospital morgue for autopsy.

Rourkee IIT to file report on dam break analysis within Jan 15

Thursday, December 29, 2011: The primary report on dam break analysis of Mullaperiyar dam being done by the Rourkee IIT would be submitted within January 15, said IIT associate professor SK Mishra.
Mishra was presenting a paper on dam break analysis at Thodupuzha agricultural fest. The analysis is being held in two phases. The first phase includes places from Mullaperiyar to Idukki and second from Idukki to Kochi. The government entered into an agreement with IIT on December 15.

Kerala varsity Asst. Grade appointments annulled

Thursday, December 29, 2011: The Lok Ayukta has on Thursday asked the Kerala University to cancel all the appointments made to the assistant grade posts in 2008 as the process then was not transparent.
The Lok Ayukta also directed to take legal action against the Vice-Chancellor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, registrar and other four-syndicate members. The present appointments must be cancelled and a new examination must be conducted into the said vacancies, Lok Ayukta informed.
In a probe by Lokayuktha on May 2011, it was found out that as many as 40,000 answer sheets of assistant grade examination were either destroyed or missing. But former VC MK Ramachandran Nair said to TV channels that Lokayuktha only made the report and there was no fraud in appointments.

Dam row: VS suspects move to upset Kerala’s interests

Thursday, December 29, 2011: Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan today asked the state government to take a serious view of the “unilateral” approach adopted by the technical members on Supreme Court appointed empowered committee on the Mullaperiyar issue during their inspection tour to the dam last week.
There were reasons to suspect that “certain quarters” were making well-thought-out moves to weaken Kerala’s case in the long-drawn dispute with Tamil Nadu, the Marxist stalwart said in a statement.
The former chief minister wanted Kerala Government to bring this matter to the notice of the Empowered Panel headed by former Chief Justice of India, A S Aanand, and the Supreme Court itself.
VS suspects moves to upset Kerala`s interests
He accused the Oommen Chandy Government of having failed to react sharply to the controversial remarks made about the case by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram recently.
Kerala officials had stayed away from the visit of the technical members last week alleging they did not hear the state’s views on the dam’s safety aspects.
VS suspects moves to upset Kerala`s interests
The two technical members on the panel — C D Thatte and D K Mehta — had a two day inspection tour of dams in Idukki district including the 116-year-old Mullaperiyar reservoir which Kerala wants to be replaced with a new one citing safety concerns.
Thatte had allegedly declined to heed the Kerala officials views during the inspection conducted on December 23.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had yesterday said the state would decide in consultation with lawyers on moving court against the alleged “unilateral” approach of the technical members.
Kerala’s Mullaperiyar Cell Chairman M K Parameswaran Nair personally appeared before the cabinet on Wednesday and briefed the recent developments.

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