Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Coastal stations to be strengthened

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government has decided to strengthen all coastal police stations in the State, Minister for Home Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said.

Mr. Balakrishnan told the Assembly in reply to questions on Tuesday that all the 66 police stations along the 610-km coastline would be fortified to prevent terrorist incursions through sea. Cyber crime cells would be opened in all districts. The Home Department is examining the draft report of Director-General of Police Jacob Punnoose for framing a new State Police Act.

Law and order and crime investigation would function as separate wings in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. The system would be extended to other districts in a phased manner.

The digital radio information system that has been introduced in the capital would be set up in Kochi and Kozhikode too. The Centre has banned the activities of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in the State.

The government had no intention to politicise the police force. The Kerala Police Association had no political affiliation. There is a proposal to set up evening munsif-magistrate courts in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Kozhikode. The courts would function from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Vigilance cases were pending against former Ministers M.K. Muneer, Adoor Prakash, M.A. Kuttappan, K.M. Mani, Vakkom Purushothaman and Kutty Ahammed Kutty, he said.

The global recession and terrorist strike in Mumbai had not affected tourist arrivals in the State. A new marketing strategy was devised to overcome the crisis and promote the State as a safe destination, he said. A single-window system was being envisaged to monitor and coordinate tourism development projects being implemented by various departments. Tourism Destination Development Councils were in place. The Kerala Tourism Development Corporation would set up a hotel complex at Muzhuppilangad, he said.

Works Minister Mons Joseph said the government had plans to avail itself of loans for the second phase of the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP) which is estimated to cost Rs.1,300 crore.

A sum of Rs.7 crore had been sanctioned for developing 104 school libraries, Minister for Education and Culture M.A. Baby said.

Temples under the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) had registered a fall in income and the Devaswom Commissioner had taken remedial steps, Devaswom Minister G. Sudhakaran informed the House. The income in Sabarimala went up this year.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu