Cabinet subcommittee to review controversial decisions of UDF Government

Thiruvananthapuram: A Cabinet subcommittee headed by A. K. Balan will examine the legality of controversial decisions taken by the previous government after January 1 this year.

These include permissions granted to projects that involved reclamation of wet lands, regularisation of land transfers and assignment of government lands which had become an election issue.

Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan told the media after the first meeting of his Cabinet that Ministers Thomas Isaac, V. S. Sunil Kumar and ministers of other LDF constituents would be members of the committee.

The Chief Minister said that the Cabinet had also found it desirable to appoint a new team to investigate the rape and murder of law student at Perumbavoor. Accordingly, a special police team led by ADGP B. Sandya would take over the investigation.

Mr. Vijayan also announced that Rs. 5000 a month would be sanctioned as pension to the mother of the dead student. Her sister would be given a government job, as decided before, without further delay.

He said that the Cabinet had decided to increase welfare pensions to Rs. 1000 a month. The details would be announced in the revised Budget after completing the procedures.  Steps would be taken to reach the pension payments to the homes of the beneficiaries.

He said that all heads of departments would be asked to report vacancies in ten days. The Chief Secretary will monitor this on a daily basis. Talks would also be held with the Public Service Commission to speed up recruitments.

Though the Central Government had abolished the Planning Commission, the State government would retain the Planning Board. The local self-governments would continue to have five year plans.

The Civil Supplies Corporation, he said, would be strengthened. The current budget allocation of Rs. 75 crore for the Corporation would be doubled.

Action would be taken to clean up drains and other places before monsoon. A meeting would be held to discuss measures on May 27.

The Chief Minister said that no programme beneficial to the people would be discontinued. The liquor policy was not discussed by the Cabinet. The ministers desired that the thalapolis and parading of children should be avoided while giving receptions to them.

He said that he would be going to Delhi on May 28 to call on the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Minister in charge of Centre State relations. These would be courtesy calls.