The State Cabinet on Wednesday accepted in principle a proposal for the takeover of the Golf Club here by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and its development to international standards.
The Cabinet also gave the green signal for setting up a football academy by the SAI near Kozhikode, provided the University of Calicut gave land for the same.
Briefing the media, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said here that the football academy would involve an investment of Rs.200 crore to Rs.300 crore. The government plan was to promote more investments in the sports sector.
The proposal to hand over the Golf Club would be subject to final decision on a case before the Supreme Court regarding its takeover by the government. The arrangement with the SAI would also protect the right of the existing members, he said.
The Cabinet would consider the proposal for handing over the high-altitude training centre at Munnar and other proposals made by the SAI later.
Title deeds for settlers
The Chief Minister announced that rules would be amended to allow transfer of titles given to settlers on forestlands encroached prior to 1977. However, the decision would not apply to titles issued recently. The ban on their transfer for 25 years would remain.
Mr. Chandy said the Cabinet had set up a committee to report on measures needed for the better functioning of abattoirs in the State. The Committee, to be headed by Principal Secretary (Animal Husbandry), would be asked to submit its report in a week.
The State had 889 abattoirs and there were widespread criticisms about the inhuman and unscientific manner in which the animals are slaughtered and meat processed for sale. The High Court had directed action to rectify the issues.
The Cabinet had sanctioned Rs.50 lakh to the Collectors of Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Malappuram, and Thiruvananthapuram districts to meet emergency requirements related to the Sabarimala pilgrimage. Rupees 4 lakh each had been sanctioned to Aiyroor and Cherukolpuzha panchayats. Other panchayats and municipalities near Sabarimala had already been sanctioned funds for emergency expenses.
A Special Purpose Vehicle would be formed to implement Rajiv Gandhi Awas Yojana, aimed at eradicating slums, in the State. The Centre was contributing 50 per cent of the project cost while the State government and local self-governments were bearing 30 per cent and 20 per cent of the costs respectively.
Regularisation
He said that the Cabinet had decided to regularise guest teachers and laboratory assistants who were working on daily wages in higher secondary schools sanctioned in August 2011. Teachers and assistants who have crossed the age limit would also be confirmed provided that they were not ‘age-over’ at the time of starting work in the schools. Educational districts would be formed in Mannarkad and Thirurangadi, and a new sub-educational district in Kottakal. The lower primary school at Appapara near Thirunelly in Wayanad would be upgraded as upper primary school. As many as 149 out of 249 pupils in the school were tribals and there were no upper primary schools in the areas. Money from the Local Area Development Fund of MLAs would be allowed to be used for construction of toilets and kitchens in aided schools.
