Kerala to urge Centre to increase compensation to agiruclture loss

Thiruvananthapuram, June 22 (UNI) Kerala Revenue Minister K P Rajendran told the State Assembly today that compensation for agriculture loss was very meagure now and the government would urge the Centre to increase it.

Replying to a Calling Attention motion by Mr K K Shaju (JSS), he said a delegation led by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan would go to New Delhi and submit a memorandum to the Centre soon in this regard.

Pointing out the seriousness of widespread sand mining from rivers and destruction of hills, which often caused floods, he said surprise raids would be undertaken by squads under Tahsildars to check such activities.

Mr Rajendran said steps would be taken to amend provisions governing compensation for crop loss as the existing provisions were oudated.

Replying to another Calling Attention, Labour Minister P K Gurudasan said sringent action would be taken against cashew factory managementa which violated labour laws.

Because of unhealthy competitions many old cashew factories were closed, he said and warned that stern action would be taken against the factories worked in temporary sheds.

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