Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram , June 15

THE Kerala Government is planning to set up a road safety authority to take steps to bring down road accidents in the State and also provide timely help to accident victims.

The State Cabinet approved on Wednesday a draft Bill to this effect, which envisages constitution of a 21-member authority with the Transport Minister as the chairman and the Public Works Minister as the vice-chairman.

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, told presspersons after the Cabinet meeting that a five-member executive committee, chaired by the Transport Commissioner, would co-ordinate the activities of the authority.

The authority would also raise funds for establishing trauma care facilities and also to improve the condition of the roads. The proposed authority will co-ordinate with other road safety agencies to reduce the number of road accidents in the State.

Qatar team coming: The Chief Minister said a high-level delegation from Qatar would visit the State on June 22 and 23 to explore investment opportunities here. The team would hold discussions with Government officials and trade and business organisations to identify possible areas of co-operation in various sectors.

The visit of the Qatar team follows the talks the Chief Minister had with the Amir of Qatar when the latter visited the country in April. The Amir had then promised to send an official team to the State, the Chief Minister said.

Paddy procurement: Mr Chandy opposed refused to buy the view expressed by different quarters that the Government's paddy procurement programme was a failure.

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