As many as 391 police personnel, including a Superintendent of Police, a DySP, a Circle Inspector, 19 sub-inspectors and 55 assistant sub-inspectors who are involved in criminal cases, are still working in the law and order wing of the police, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
Replying to questions in the Assembly on Monday, Mr.Chandy said that the 391 police personnel were among the 536 police officers involved in criminal cases. As many as 100 murder cases, including two political murders, were reported since the UDF government assumed office.
Health Minister Adoor Prakash said that the Central team which reached here to study the fever outbreak has submitted its report to the government. Due to the lapses in solid waste disposal and water-logging, chances of an epidemic outbreak like leptospirosis and such other diseases are very high. After having fever, if one having other diseases resorts to self-treatment, it will weaken the body. The condition will be much worse in the case of alcoholics. As many as 233 posts of assistant surgeon were remaining vacant in the Health Department. The government had offered to conduct walk-in interviews for doctors. Even the response to the Public Service Commission recruitment was lukewarm. There were no proposals to form a special cadre for MBBS and post-graduate medical students. A comprehensive health insurance scheme covering all sections of people has been envisaged by the government, he said.
Education Minister Abdu Rabb said that the government was planning to amend the laws which govern the Kerala University so that the appointment of non-teaching staff can be vested with the PSC. The ordinance for nominating members to the Kerala University syndicate has been issued.
As many as 23,503 accidents were reported in the State till August last. About 896 accident prone areas and 217 highly accident prone areas have been identified. Till March 31, 66,71,889 vehicles were registered in the State, Transport Minister V.S.Sivakumar said.
Water Resources Minister P.J.Joseph said that the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme has turned out to be less attractive for the State as the Centre has revised the norms. Earlier, the Centre used to bear 75 per cent of the cost and the State had to give only 25 per cent. Now it has been reversed and hence was not beneficial for the State. The Muvattupuzha Valley Irrigation Project will be completed next year. The Cherthala JBIC drinking water scheme is expected to be completed by December, he said.EOM/NJN
