Sand-mining: Government for debate on panel report

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, said here on Friday that the report of the expert committee on mineral sand-mining on the Alappuzha coast would be discussed with all concerned.

Talking to presspersons after a meeting of the Cabinet, the Chief Minister said that talks would be held with people's representatives, trade union leaders, environmental activists and others who had joined the debate when the matter became controversial.

After the discussions, the matter would go before the Cabinet for decision in accordance with the announcement made before the appointment of the committee. The Chief Minister said that the inquiry report of Home Secretary K.K. Vijayakumar on the Vigilance Director's statement about non-receipt of files from the State Electricity Board for the vigilance probe into alleged irregularities in the award of contract for renovation of Pallivasal, Chengulam and Panniyar power stations had not been discussed by the Cabinet on Friday. The Chief Secretary had received the report. The Cabinet did not take it up as the Home Secretary was out of station.

Nursing schools


Mr. Chandy announced that the Cabinet had decided to grant no-objection certificates to 13 new nursing schools. Besides, 12 new B.Sc. (Nursing) courses and three post-basic B.Sc. courses would be sanctioned in the existing nursing colleges. The Government proposed to grant more NOCs if the applicant fulfilled the required conditions. No relaxation of norms would be permitted.

However, the facilities in Government hospitals would be extended to fulfil bed requirements if credible organisations of Scheduled Castes and Tribes or their cooperatives came forward to start nursing colleges or schools.

Though the Government had been liberal in sanctioning nursing schools and colleges, none had gone to organisations of Scheduled Castes and Tribes so far.