Page 60 - Kerala

Kerala govt, BPCL agree in principle to set up Kochi plant to process waste

The Kerala government and the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) on Wednesday reached an in-principle agreement to set up a plant in Kochi to process waste and produce compressed biogas, nearly two months after the port city witnessed a massive fire at the Brahmapuram dump site, exposing an outdated waste management practice. A decision in this regard was taken in a meeting held by government representatives, including State Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh, Industries Minister P Rajeev, and State Chief Secretary VP Joy with representatives of BPCL, an official statement said here. Rajesh said the plant will be constructed by BPCL on the land handed over by the government, and the company will also be responsible for maintaining the plant. "BPCL has informed us that the plant can be made operational within a year. The current understanding is to set up the plant in Brahmapuram itself. The municipal solid waste of Kochi and nearby municipalities can be treated at the ..

PM's remark 'Congress divides society' sounds 'unreal': Kapil Sibal

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that the Congress follows divisive politics sounds "unreal", as he cited the censor board's clearance to 'The Kerala Story' despite the film allegedly "demonising an entire community." Addressing a public meeting in Karnataka on Tuesday, Modi had said the people of Karnataka have to beware of both Congress and the JD(S). They are two separate parties only for show, but they are one by their heart and deeds. Both are dynastic, both promote corruption, and both do politics to divide the society, he had said. Reacting to the remarks, Sibal said in a tweet, "The Kerala Story Cleared by the Censor Board, spreads venom and demonises an entire community and the PM in Karnataka says Congress follows 'politics of dividing society'. Sounds unreal!" 'The Kerala Story', starring Adah Sharma, is set to be released in cinemas on May 5. Written and directed by Sudipto Sen, the film claims to be "unearthing" the ..

'The Kerala Story' controversy: Why are state leaders mulling for a ban?

The film deals with the story of a group of women from Kerala who were converted to Islam (either by force or were deceived) and go on to join the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)

The Kerala Story gets 'A' certificate from censor board, 10 scenes deleted

A scene, which is believed to have been cut included dialogues and inappropriate references to all Hindu Gods

IMD predicts heavy rains in Kerala, 'Orange' alert in 4 districts

The India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rains in Kerala for the next five days, and an Orange alert has been issued in four districts - Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Thrissur

Kochi Water Metro ferries over 6,500 passengers on first day of service

The 'Water Metro' operated every 15 minutes in the High Court-Vypin route from both terminals

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Kochi Water Metro commences operations, over 6,500 people ride on first day

The Kerala government's ambitious Kochi Water Metro service, a first in the country and launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day ago, commenced its commercial operations on Wednesday on a single route which witnessed an "overwhelming" response with a ridership of over 6,500. On the first day of its commercial operations, Kochi Water Metro ran boats between the Kerala High Court and Vypin terminals from 7 AM onwards and saw a ridership of 6,559 passengers, Kochi Water Metro Ltd (KWML) said in a statement. KWML said the public response on the first day was "overwhelming". "Boats were operated every 15 minutes from 7 AM to 8 PM in the High Court -Vypin route from both the terminals," it said. On Thursday, commercial operations would commence on the second route from Vytilla to Kakkanad. "It is expected that this route will be beneficial to the people of Kakkanad and for those working in Infopark. In the initial days, the Kochi Water Metro would be operating in this route during

Trouble looms for ancient Indian grain pokkali that helps combat climate

"While prawns fetch more money than pokkali, a focus on them is upending a delicate ecosystem, making it difficult for farmers who want to continue with pokkali," said environmental experts

Kerala govt to include NCERT omitted portions in state school syllabus

"The state government can print textbooks independently unless the Centre denies giving permission to teach these subjects. Teachers' unions also believe that the omitted lessons should be taught"

30 members of Kudumbashree SHG get jobs in Kochi Water Metro Service

The ambitious Water Metro Service of the Kerala government, which was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will have 30 Kudumbashree members employed in its housekeeping and ticketing sections. Kudumbashree said 18 of its members have joined the ticketing section of the Water Metro while 12 are with the housekeeping section. Kochi Water Metro service began commercial operations on Wednesday. There are a total of 74 staff currently employed in the newly inaugurated Water Metro Service. "Thirty of the staff appointed for housekeeping and ticketing are from the women self-help group, Kudumbashree... More women will be employed when the need arises. Women from neighbourhood groups of Kochi East, South, Mulavukad and Elamkunnapuzha regions have got placements," Kudumbashree said in a statement. The women got the opportunity through Kudumbashree Initiative for Business Solutions (KIBS) society, formed to provide jobs to women based on their educational qualifications. Kudumbashree,

Kochi holds greatest promise for adoption of active, shared mobility

Aizawl in Mizoram emerged as a top performer in clean mobility according to Ola Mobility Institute (OMI) Foundation's Ease of Moving Index - India Report 2022

Modi inaugurates Kerala projects worth Rs 3,200 cr; Kochi gets water metro

Public transport and logistics being completely transformed in the country, he says

India to get its first water metro today: All you need to know about it

Kerala KWM: The Rs 1,137 crore project will connect ten small islands around Kochi with boats running on hybrid power

PM Modi to lay foundation of Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, will lay the foundation stone of the Digital Science Park in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday

PM Modi to inaugurate India's first water metro in Kochi on Tuesday

He will also flag off Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express and inaugurate other projects worth more than Rs 3,200 cr

Kerala to get its first Vande Bharat Express, Water Metro on Tuesday

Prime Minister Modi, who will be on a visit to Kerala on April 25, will lay the foundation stone and inaugurate various projects worth more than Rs 3200 crore

Youth programme, meeting church leaders on PM's calendar for Kerala visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will arrive in Kerala on Monday for a two-day visit during which he will be attending several programmes, including the flagging off of the Vande Bharat Express train here, a meeting with senior priests of the Christian community and a youth event. The BJP in Kerala is aiming to use the PM's visit as a springboard for its outreach campaign aimed at bringing youth and minorities into its fold. On Monday, after a road show in the port city of Kochi, the PM would be attending a youth programme -- Yuvam 2023 -- there, which the BJP hopes would be a game changer in Kerala politics. However, the most politically significant event would be the Prime Minister's meeting with the church leaders in the evening at Kochi. The meeting comes in the wake of the saffron party's outreach campaign -- Sneha Yatra -- as part of which leaders of the BJP in Kerala visited Christian and Muslim leaders and the homes of people of these minority communities on the festive occasio

Kerala police arrest man who wrote threat letter ahead of PM Modi's visit

Kerala police on Sunday arrested a man who allegedly sent a letter threatening a suicide bomb attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will be visiting the state on April 24 and 25 to take part in various programmes. Kochi resident Xavier, who runs a business in the city, was arrested by police for allegedly writing the threatening letter in the name of another person. "We have arrested the man after probing the matter in a scientific manner. This was part of a personal vendetta. He wanted the person mentioned in the letter to be arrested," City Police Commissioner K Sethu Raman told PTI. The letter in Malayalam, written in the name of Kochi resident N J Johny, was received at the office of BJP state president K Surendran who in turn handed it over to the police last week. The news of the letter came out on Saturday after a report by ADGP (Intelligence) was telecast in the media. After the news was out, Surendran met the media and said he had handed over the threatening letter a

DYFI to ask hundred questions to PM Modi ahead of his Kerala visit

A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kerala to take part in 'Yuvam-23' to interact with youngsters, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the ruling CPI(M) has announced a protest on Sunday and posed one hundred questions to him over various issues faced by the youth. Modi is scheduled to attend Yuvam-2023, an interaction with youngsters, organised by the BJP at Kochi on April 24. The DYFI has launched a massive campaign asking 100 questions to Modi on various issues faced by the youth and the country such as unemployment, poor wages, sale of public sector companies among others. Hundreds of flex boards raising questions to Modi have been erected by the DYFI, next to the BJP boards welcoming the Prime Minister. The DYFI protest on Sunday will be held in all 14 districts of the state and will be inaugurated by senior Left leaders at all places. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan will inaugurate the protest at Kollam while LDF convenor