Kerala to procure rice from WB, AP

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 30: Taking serious note of the price rise in Kerala the state government today decided to procure rice from West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh to contain the situation.

''The Cabinet today decided to procure rice from the two states below the market rate,'' Chief Minister V S Achutanandan told newspersons here.

The supply of rice through Supplyco at a lower price than the market rate would continue, Mr Achutanandan said.

As part of sanitation measures during the coming monsoon, he said a pre-monsoon sanitation drive would be launched on May 9.

The sanitation programme in each district would be implemented under the supervision of a minister, he added.

The Cabinet had also decided to give temporary charge of the Cochin International Airport Limited to Dr C G Krishnadas Nair in place of Mr Sriram Bhagath, who was on deputation.

Neela Gangadharan had been made the Land Revenue Commissioner while Puneet Kumar was appointed as the Joint Excise Commissioner.

UNI