Coconut Neera Board to be formed

For the promotion of neera, a non-alcoholic sweet drink, Kerala Government has decided to constitute Coconut Neera Board, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said today.
Talking to reporters after a cabinet meeting, he said Rs.15 crore had been earmarked for Neera production in the current financial year.
Out of this, budget allocation of Rs 1.85 crore had already been sanctioned for the Kerala Agriculture University for the research and development of neera.
The remaining Rs 13.2 crores would be utilised by giving a 50 per cent grant to 11 neera producing companies, subject to a maximum of Rs 1.5 crores, he said.

On other decisions, he said sanction has been accorded to start a cattle-feed unit at Arikuzhi in Idukki District. The Rs 66.6 crore unit will have a capacity to produce 500 tons of cattle-feed.
It has been decided to give postings to all doctors in the PSC list in the Health Service.
Since many of the posts would remain vacant even after filling of vacancies from the PSC list, the government had decided to give extension of six months to doctors who retire this month.
A flyover will be built at Padinjarekotta junction in Thrissur town under BOT annuity scheme by Kerala Road Fund Board. Administrative sanction has been given for this work, estimated to cost Rs 38 crores, he said.