Kerala to ensure better disaster management system: CM

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 11 (UNI) Kerala will acquire a helicopter for the Fire and Rescue Service Department to ensure a better disaster management system in the state, Chief Minister V S Achutanandan said.

Addressing reporters after a Cabinet meeting, he said the helicopter would be placed with the Disaster Management team under the Fire and Rescue Service Department.

Stating that the government had proposed to buy one helicopter, Mr Achutanandan said talks would be held with the Defence Ministry in this regard. ''At times, there is difficulty in speedy rescue operations and the Cabinet had decided to go for a helicopter taking this into account,'' he said.

He also said a survey would be conducted to identify social and economic problems of backward communities. The planning department would be entrusted with the survey, he added.

The Cabinet had also given approval for starting a pediatric nephrology department at the Sree Avitam Thirunal hospital, the largest women and children hospital in the state.

It had decided to increase the compensation from Rs 30,000 to Rs one lakh for the family of those killed in the cracker explosion at Malappuram, which claimed six lives. Regarding the major fire in Kozhikode, which claimed eight lives, Mr Achutanandan said both the state police and the Central teams were investigating it and reports were awaited.

Regarding the Kerala High Court verdict quashing the order of the Pudussery Gram Panchayat in Palakkad district, cancelling the license granted to the Pepsico to operate its plant at Kanjikkode, he said the government would take further steps in this regard in respect to the court order.

The Cabinet also decided to appoint V K Balakrishnan as the Alappuzha Collector and Sumina Menon as the Malappuram Collector. It also decided to appoint Sashidhar as the Labour Commissioner.

UNI