The Hindu Business Line : Kerala CM warns against filling up wetlands for construction

THE Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, has sounded a warning against the practice of filling up paddy fields, ponds and wetlands for construction purposes.

Speaking in the State Assembly during question hour on Monday, the Chief Minister said filling up of wetlands is one of the main reasons for recurrent droughts and floods in many parts of the State. He called upon people to desist from putting paddy fields to any other purpose than cultivation.

The demand for inclusion of people's representatives in district-level flood relief committees would be considered, he said in reply to another question.

Eighty-eight people had died and 13 were reported missing in monsoon-related incidents during the post-onset phase in May/June this year. Standing crops over 19,680 hectares had been destroyed, the revenue loss resulting from which having been estimated at Rs 177.45 crore. An ex gratia of Rs 50,000 had been granted to the next of kin of those who lost lives in monsoon fury, and Rs 15,000 each to parents of children who died.

Special care: District collectors have been asked to take special care of the coastal belt and the hilly areas that had repeatedly been made to bear the brunt of nature's fury. The Centre had failed to extend monetary assistance to the State, other than from the National Calamities Fund, to be passed on to those affected as flood relief.

Funds allotted to Members of the House for building flood roads were not being put to good use and the money was better channelised to other relief work, according to the Chief Minister. Most of these roads would last for a short period only, he said while replying to a question. It was up to the MLAs to discuss among themselves on how best to make use of the funds.

Welfare pension: The Finance Minister, Mr K. Sankaranarayanan, told the House that one instalment of welfare pension would be given away before the Onam festival season next month.

Replying to a Calling Attention Motion, he said the welfare pension payout would entail an annual commitment of Rs 240 crore on the exchequer. Neither the Asian Development Bank nor the World Bank had anything to do with the distribution of the welfare pension.

The Minister for Local Administration, Mr Cherkalam Abdulla, ruled out the possibility of introducing a pension for former members of local self-government bodies in the State since the financial commitment required was beyond the capacity of the Government.

A team of experts that had studied the matter in detail also had expressed itself against the introduction of any such scheme. A survey had revealed that there were 60,000 former members who had retired after service with local bodies in the State.

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