German technology of milling and recycling will be used by the Public Works Department for roads maintained by it in the State.
Announcing this in the Assembly on Monday in reply to a question, Minister for Public Works G. Sudhakaran said the technology was being used for the 22-km National Highway corridor from Purakkad to Pathirappally in Alappuzha district. Under the new technology, the top layer of the asphalt pavement will be scooped out using a machine. The material will be cleaned and reused after mixing with fresh bitumen, cement, sand and other materials.
Plastic will be used to lay 200 km of roads this year. In stretches where the earth is loose, geo-textiles will be used, Mr. Sudhakaran said.
The Minister said the non-availability of plastic, despite the good price offered, is preventing the PWD from using it in more areas for road surfacing. Minister for Local Self-Governments K.T. Jaleel said local bodies should provide washed plastic waste collected from households to the Clean Kerala company.
Examinations
Minister for Education C. Ravindranath said the government would revamp all the examinations in the State. Students will be equipped to excel in entrance examinations by changing orientation of teaching. The teachers are also being trained in ICT to ensure that teaching is on par with international standards.
The SCERT has been asked to look into the issues at the pre-primary level by setting up an expert committee, the Minister said. The report will be submitted in two months.
Prayer song
In reply to another question, the Minister said instructions have been given to render “Manasu Nannavatte..” as the common prayer song in the schools. It cannot be imposed and consensus from all quarters is needed, he said.
Encroachments
Minister for Revenue E. Chandrasekharan informed the House that 74.98 hectares of land has been encroached in the State in 553 cases. This includes 4.5 acres of land belonging to the Kerala Water Authority at Neyyar for the construction of a temple. In one year, the government has recovered 147.822 hectares of encroached land.
HIV cases
As many as 29,444 HIV cases had been confirmed in the State till January 2017, Minister for Health K.K. Shylaja informed the Assembly. Free treatment is being provided through Ushus centres with the help of the National Aids Control Organisation.
