Page 23 - Kerala

Efforts on to replicate Kochi water metro in 18 locations nationwide: KMRL

With the success of the Kochi Water Metro, efforts are on to replicate the eco-friendly and innovative water transport model in 18 locations nationwide, Kochi Metro Rail Ltd said. KMRL, which operates and maintains the water metro, said that the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways has assigned it the task of conducting a feasibility study to assess the potential for similar water metro systems in diverse regions. "With the recent approval of its Board of Directors to form a consultancy wing, KMRL has formed an in-house committee to lead the initial work. If needed, external experts will be brought in to strengthen the process," it said in a release on Saturday. This new initiative is a proud recognition for Kerala, KMRL innovation and expertise, it added. KMRL also said that with its modern facilities, comparable to metro rail systems, and environmentally sustainable design, the Kochi Water Metro "has set a new benchmark for urban water transport". Feasibility study will f

Kerala BJP leader booked for 'hate speech' against minority community

Kerala BJP leader P C George has been booked for allegedly making remarks that could incite religious hatred, police said on Saturday. George was accused of hate speech against a minority community during a TV discussion held early this week, sources said. The Erattupetta Police here registered a case against the senior leader on Friday based on a complaint filed by the Muslim Youth League Municipal Committee. He was booked under various sections of the BNS, police said adding that further proceedings would be initiated soon. "The case was registered after the statements of the complainants were recorded," a police officer said. Meanwhile, BJP strongly condemned the police case against George and alleged that it was a "political vendetta by the LDF government." Senior BJP leader and the party's Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar accused the CPI(M)-led Left government of not saying a word against Hamas and admitting PDF followers into their fold. Justifying George, Javadekar said

Tension in Angamaly-Ernakulam archdiocese in Kerala after police action

A tense atmosphere prevailed outside the Bishop House of the Angamaly-Ernakulam archdiocese here, after the police on Saturday evacuated from there several priests who were on an indefinite fast demanding withdrawal of certain documents issued by an Apostolic Administrator. Believers and priests strongly criticise the police action. They claimed before TV channels that the protesting priests were forcibly evacuated by the police from the Bishop House in the wee hours of Saturday. Visuals on TV channels also show that some of the protesting priests were injured in the police action. Several believers and priests, thereafter, began arriving in numbers at the St Mary's Basilica where the protesting priests were relocated and police were also seen in large numbers. The believers also got into a heated argument with police outside the Angamaly-Ernakulam archdiocese headquarters. They also accused Ernakulam ACP C Jayakumar of saying that the government was against the Angamaly-Ernakula

Kerala state agency app to help parents monitor their children's academics

A state-run agency in Kerala has developed an innovative mobile application that empowers parents to actively monitor the academic journey of the their children, an official said. The 'Sampoorna Plus' Mobile App, developed by Kerala Infrastructure and Technology for Education (KITE), is expected to help parents of 36.44 Lakh students in 12,943 schools in the state. KITE is the technology arm of the Kerala General Education Department. A recent government order that mandates the use of Sampoorna online management software in all schools, directs to take measures for the enhancement of the software as well, an official statement said here on Saturday. This app has details like student attendance, their academic performance, and evaluation of extracurricular activities which will benefit the teachers, students and parents. The Sampoorna Plus Mobile App, recently launched by state General Education Minister V Sivankutty also has these features, said K Anvar Sadath, CEO of the KITE. T

Centre clears Rs 120 crore for immediate Wayanad rehabilitation: Kerala HC

The Kerala High Court on Friday said the Centre has agreed to the freeing up of Rs 120 crore for immediate use by the Kerala state government in connection with the rehabilitation proceedings ongoing at Wayanad, where a massive landslide occurred on July 30 last year. While hearing a case taken on its own for prevention and management of natural disasters in the state in the wake of the landslides that devastated three villages in Wayanad district and claimed over 200 lives, a Division Bench of Justices A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Easwaran S recorded the Central government's consent to free up Rs 120 crore of arrears owed by the state to the Centre in airlift charges over the years. "The said amount can accordingly be used in relaxation of the SDRF/NDRF norms of the Central Government," an order of High Court stated. Additional Solicitor General of India A R L Sundaresan placed before the High Court a letter, dated January 2, of the Assistant Director (DM), Ministry of Home Affairs

Eminent playback singer P Jayachandran passes away at 80 in Kerala

P Jayachandran, the celebrated playback singer who recorded over 16,000 songs in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi, died at the age of 80. The singer died on Thursday evening while undergoing treatment at a private hospital here, hospital sources said. Jayachandran was widely recognised for his contribution to Indian music, having won several awards for best playback singer. He was also honoured with the Kerala government's prestigious J C Daniel Award.

Kerala GST taxpayers get relief from multiple show-cause notices

Taxpayers who have been issued multiple notices for the same GST issue, albeit for different periods or jurisdictions, stand to benefit the most from this move

Kerala, Telangana monitoring reports of China flu outbreak with Centre

Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday said the state government is closely monitoring the news reports about the massive outbreak of viral fever and respiratory infection in China and said there is no need to panic as of now. In a Facebook post, George said there have been no reports so far about any virus found in China that could become pandemic or spread rapidly to other regions. As Malayalees are there in all parts of the world and expatriates frequently come to the state, including from China, extra caution should be exercised, she said. "We are monitoring the situation in China. If an outbreak is detected that has the potential to spread to other areas, we can check its spread very quickly," she said. The minister also urged people, especially pregnant women, children and elderly people, to take extra vigil and asked them to wear masks. An official source said on Friday that the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is closely monitoring respiratory and season

Kerala Nurse Nimisha Priya’s Case: What Happened?

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kollengode, Kerala has recently made it to the news for her death sentencing in Yemen. What is the case all about and what is the Indian government doing about it.

What is blood money, key to saving Kerala nurse from death row in Yemen?

The Quran encourages forgiveness and compensation to the victim's family as preferable alternatives to retribution. This system is called 'diyya,' which loosely refers to 'blood money.'

Kerala CM condemns Maharashtra minister Rane's 'mini Pakistan' remark

The Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday vehemently criticised Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane for calling Kerala a "mini Pakistan" and said his remarks were highly "provocative and condemnable". The Sangh Parivar's basic approach towards Kerala is exposed through the words of the Maharashtra minister, the CM said in a statement. The Sangh Parivar believes that they can isolate a place that's difficult for them to influence by alienating and spreading hate campaigns and these statements came as part of that, he said. A minister, who made the hate statement, does not deserve to continue in the position, Vijayan said. "It is surprising that the leadership of the country's ruling party is yet to react to the minister's act of serious breach of oath, which amounted to insulting the country's Constitution," he added. Later in a post on social media X, the Chief Minister termed the Maharashtra minister's comment as "deeply malicious & utterly condemnable". Such rhetoric .

Centre, state govt need to take initiative: Kerala LoP on Nimisha Priya

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) earlier in the day confirmed its awareness of the death sentence handed to Nimisha Priya and assured that the government is providing all possible assistance

Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya on death sentence in Yemen: All we know

Nimisha Priya's death sentence was approved by the Yemeni President on December 30 and her execution is scheduled to take place within a month

Kerala min slams Centre for delay in declaring Wayanad landslide 'severe'

Criticising the Centre for taking five months before declaring Wayanad landslide as a 'disaster of severe nature,' Kerala Revenue Minister K Rajan said on Tuesday that it would have been more beneficial if the Centre's announcement had come within two months after the calamity struck. The state government had on Monday received an official communication from the Centre that the Wayanad landslides have been declared as a disaster of "severe nature," recognising its intensity and impact for all practical purposes. Addressing reporters here, Rajan said it would have been more beneficial if the Centre's declaration had come within two months of the disaster. We can't just understand why it took more than five months for the Centre to make such a declaration, the minister said. He said despite the Inter-Ministerial Central Team submitting its report to the Home ministry within a month of the disaster, The Centre's high-level committee sat on it for five months to recognise the landslide

Army officer assaulted at Kochi NCC camp over 'food poisoning', 2 arrested

The accused duo entered the college premises on the night of December 23, threatened, and attacked Lieutenant Colonel Karneyil Singh, the administrative officer of the 21 Kerala NCC Battalion

Glad Shah declared Wayanad tragedy as 'Disaster of Severe Nature': Priyanka

Centre had informed the state of Kerala that the Meppadi landslide disaster in Wayanad district has been considered by the Inter-Ministerial Central Team as a disaster of 'severe nature'

Air Kerala set to start operations by June 2025 with 1st flight from Kannur

As part of the agreement, Air Kerala initially will have a substantial number of departures from Kannur, to nearby domestic destinations

Kerala's eventful 2024 marred by disasters, scandals and political twists

The devastating landslides that wiped away three villages in Wayanad, Congress' thumping victory in the Lok Sabha polls and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's maiden electoral victory were the significant events that shaped the Kerala's socio-political scenario in 2024. The revelations of sexual abuse and harassment in the Malayalam film industry, brought to light by the Justice Hema Committee report, also stirred up the political pot due to the delay in disclosing the panel's findings, which followed allegations of rape against some key actors, including ruling CPI(M) MLA and actor M Mukesh. On 30 July, massive landslides occurred in the Chooralmala and Mundakkai regions of Wayanad, triggered by torrential rains, resulting in over 200 deaths, numerous injuries, and thousands being left homeless. It is considered one of the worst natural disasters in Kerala's history. Hundreds were left buried under the debris and many had to be pulled out by rescue agencies, which ...

Malayalam film and TV actor Dileep Shankar found dead in hotel room

Well-known film and television actor Dileep Shankar, known for his varied roles in serials, was found dead in a hotel room here, police said on Sunday. The 50-year-old actor had checked into the hotel, located in the heart of the city, on December 19 for a serial shooting project, police added. He was last seen two days ago by the hotel staff outside his room, a senior police officer said. Repeated calls from the hotel staff and the serial crew went unanswered, prompting them to inform the police. "The room was locked from inside. When we broke open the door, he was found lying motionless," the police said. The death is believed to have occurred two days ago. According to the post-mortem report, the cause of death was internal bleeding, possibly resulting from a head injury after a fall, police said. The actor had also reportedly been suffering from liver-related health issues, police added. In addition to his work in serials, Shankar also played notable roles in several films.

Legendary Malayalam writer, 'Jnanpith' awardee MT Vasudevan Nair dies at 91

Noted writer and Jnanpith award winner M T Vasudevan Nair, who had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital here following heart failure, has passed away, hospital sources said on Wednesday. He was 91. "MT has died," a hospital source told PTI without elaborating. The office of Kerala's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed receiving the information about MT's demise. He had been under the care of a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including cardiologists and critical care experts, since his hospitalisation last week.