News and Views

Kerala will have to wait for five years get its streets fee of stray dogs and waste.

Minister for Local Self Government K. T. Jaleel told the Assembly on Thursday that the government had drawn up a project to eliminate stray dogs in five years. A five-year project has also drawn up for freeing the State of waste.

Forest Minister K. Raju told the Assembly on Thursday that the present and the previous government had the same approach on the Gadgil and Kasturirangan reports on ecologically sensitive areas on the Western Ghats.

The government stood by the unanimous resolution adopted by the House during the UDF rule that populated areas should not be included in the ecologically sensitive areas falling in 123 villages.

Agriculture Minister V. S. Sunil Kumar informed the Assembly on Wednesday that the government proposed to form a welfare fund board for farmers.

Replying to the debate on the budgetary demand for grants for Agriculture, the Minister said that the present pension scheme for farmers would be brought under the board. The norms for eligibility would be revised. “We will give pensions to all farmers.”

Thiruvananthapuram: UDF and Kerala Congress (M) members staged a walkout in the Assembly on Wednesday over the political murders in Kannur district.

Minister for Water Resources Mathew T. Thomas told the Assembly on Tuesday that the government was taking a number of steps to mitigate drought in the State.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Water Supply and Sanitation and Irrigation, the Minister said that rainfall during South West monsoon was deficient by 32.7 per cent.