Forest fire during the January-February period this year has destroyed 2,013.41 hectares in the State causing a loss of ₹2,43,258, Minister for Forest K. Raju informed the Assembly on Thursday.
Replying to questions, the Minister said steps had been taken to preserve water sources in the forest and conserve rainwater. Besides, the department had taken steps to dredge water bodies and construct check-dams.
Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes A.K. Balam said 4,075 more would be given land under the Forest Rights Act before March 31. Necessary instructions had been given to the District Collectors.
Under the Act, 25,081 persons had been provided 33,778 acres of land. As many as 164 were given community rights and 204 development rights. Steps to provide land to 12,435 Scheduled Tribes families were on and the aim of the government was to solve the land issue of Adivasis in two years, Mr. Balan said.
The Minister said the Backward Class Development Corporation would open 10 sub-district offices. The Corporation would permanently set up three craft villages. Mr. Balan and Minister for Finance T.M. Thomas Isaac assured the House that education scholarship arrears of ₹157 crore during the previous UDF regime to OBC and OEC students would be cleared soon.
Minister for Education C. Raveendranath informed the House that the Bill for ensuring minimum wages to teachers of private educational institutions was under the consideration of the General Education Department.
In a written reply to a question, Minister for Excise T.P. Ramakrishnan said Bevco had no plans to reduce the number of outlets to bring down the consumption of alcohol and beer. As per the decision of the previous UDF regime to reduce the outlets by 10% annually, the Minister said 68 outlets were closed.
Minister for Water Resources Mathew T. Thomas said instructions had been given to repair leaks in pipelines within one-hour in view of the acute scarcity of drinking water. The government had allocated ₹40 crore for making available drinking water in the State during the summer months, he said.
