The Hindu Business Line : Kerala: Ban on trawling from June 14

THE State Government has decided to impose a ban on trawling by mechanised boats in the seas falling within the State's territorial waters for a period of 45 days from June 14 midnight.

This period coincides with the monsoon-time movement of schools of exotic fish towards the shallow shoreline along the western coast for breeding purposes.

Announcing the decision after a Cabinet meeting here, the Chief Minister, Mr A. K. Antony, said the ban would be enforced by the Department of Fisheries in cooperation with other agencies concerned. The State Government has been imple- menting the ban over the last several years in response to collective demands from traditional fishermen.

In another decision, the Cabinet expressed itself against an upward revision of the electricity tariff in the State. According to Mr Antony, it has been decided not to recommend a hike to the Electricity Regulatory Commission. The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has been able to cap the upward trend in revenue deficit accruals. Reasonably good rainfall last year would have helped the board pare down the deficit by at least Rs 500 crore.

Answering another question, he said a special Cabinet meeting to be held on June 19 would discuss the implementation of the Modernising Government Programme (MGP), a prescription of the Asian Development Bank. Responding to another question, the Chief Minister ruled out the possibility of reshuffle of his Cabinet. "Changes would be considered when the need arises. There is no such need as of now," he added.

In another decision, the Cabinet decided to recommend the setting up of English medium divisions in Government schools in the State.

This is aimed at reversing a trend in which large numbers of students have been found to leave Government schools to join unaided English medium schools, the Chief Minister said. The Government will sanction English medium divisions in classes 1, 5 and 8 both in Government-owned schools and aided schools.

Meanwhile, the Kerala high Court has expressed its inability to spare a sitting judge to conduct the judicial probe into the communal killings at Marad in Kozhikode district. "Under these circumstances, the State Government would explore available options."

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