The Hindu : UDF defers decision on Rent Control Bill

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 13, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

UDF defers decision on Rent Control Bill

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM June 12. The UDF High Power Committee has given its political clearance to 21 out of the 26 legislations recommend by the Law Reforms Commission. It decided to defer a decision on the Rent Control Bill and the Industrial Employment (prohibition of Obstructing practices) Bill, which formed part of the commission's recommendations, owing to their controversial nature.

Addressing a press conference here today, the UDF convener, Oommen Chandy, said that Law Reforms Commission had submitted its report in November 2002, but the UDF was unable to hold a detailed discussion on the report, which had recommended some far-reaching reforms that required political clearance.

The 26 Bills put up for reforms included repeal of 697 legislations. The department concerned would now prepare the legislations on the basis of the Law Reforms Commission recommendations. Since political clearance had been given, the Bills now required only Cabinet clearance, he added.

He clarified that the Bill relating to the inter-State rubber wood movement control also included in those which had been cleared by the UDF High Power Committee.

Mr. Chandy said that the UDF had also cleared a legislation to prevent illegal sand-mining activities. The Bill, which was proposed by a UDF subcommittee headed by the Revenue Minister, K. M. Mani, envisages a major role for panchayats in sand-mining. Under its provisions, river sand would be mined by the respective panchayats and auctioned off.

The law would have provision for the issuance of special passes for carting sand in lorries. Sand would be auctioned in the presence of the panchayat secretary and panchayat members. The panchayats would be authorised to take 50 per cent of the auction amount and the rest would go to the River Management Fund, Mr. Chandy said.

He said that the UDF High Power Committee had discussed the Unified University Bill in detail. The KPCC president, K. Muraleedharan, conveyed the apprehensions expressed by the KPCC executive meeting. The Education Minister, Nalakath Soopy, gave an assurance that the interests of all sections in the higher education sector would be protected. The Government had an open mind and would try to accommodate changes.

Mr. Chandy said that many of the suggestions put forward by the KPCC subcommittee had been incorporated in the Bill. But there were serious doubts about the representative nature of the varsities.

"We are trying to find a way to ensure this within the framework of the UGC's model Bill. He said that the UDF had also asked the Industries Minister to convene a meeting of all trade unions as part of the Government's attempt to find a solution to the serious problems in the cashew sector.

Alappuzha mining project

Mr. Chandy said that the UDF had cleared the KPCC proposal for setting up an expert committee to re-examine the Alappuzha mineral sand-mining project. He said that it had been decided to take further steps on the project only after the committee submitted its report.

Mr. Chandy said that the new committee had been recommended to once again examine the project proposals in the backdrop of the strong agitation that has come up. The project had gone through several procedures and there was no harm in getting another expert committee to re-evaluate the project proposals he said.

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UDF defers decision on Rent Control Bill