Beer, wine parlour licences get 3-month extension

LDF government yet to announce its new liquor policy

KCBC activists putting liquor to flames in Kottayam in protest against the LDF’s stance on liquor policy in this file photo.

The Cabinet has extended the licence of beer and wine parlours, toddy shops, and bar permit holders for three months from April 1.

The Cabinet, which met here on Thursday, decided to extend the licences in view of the fact that the new excise policy of the Left Democratic Front government had not been announced so far.

The toddy shop licences would be extended after collecting a fee proportionate to the existing rates and also in compliance with the norms in force. Other licences would be issued as per the excise rules after collecting the current fees.

Aid announced

The Cabinet decided to release ₹56.76 crore as third instalment of the relief sanctioned for endosulfan victims. Earlier, the government had decided to provide ₹5 lakh each to the bed-ridden and mentally-challenged and ₹3 lakh each to those suffering from physical disability and cancer in two instalments.

Third instalment

Those instalments had been distributed. The latest allocation is for distributing the third instalment. A sum of ₹5.14 crore would be distributed to 257 bed-ridden patients and each of them would get ₹2 lakh each.

The mentally-challenged would get ₹2 lakh and the disabled ₹1 lakh each. The kin of the dead would get ₹2 lakh.

The first grama/ward sabha meeting for the formulation of the 13th Plan would be held from April 2 to 9. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Cabinet colleagues would attend the sabhas in their respective wards. MPs and MLAs have been told to attend the Sabha meetings in their wards. Chief Secretary S.M. Vijayanand and other bureaucrats have also been told to attend the sessions in their wards.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) would be entrusted with the task of constructing new classrooms for the Chathanoor Lower Primary School in Palakkad where DMRC chief adivser E. Sreedharan had studied. The Public Works Department would provide ₹20 lakh from its fund for the project.

A sum of ₹5 lakh has been sanctioned to Omana, wife of P.K. Podimon, who died after the first heart transplant surgery in a government hospital.