Page 68 - Kerala

States' Budget demand: 60% GST share, extended compensation period

State finance ministers demanded greater fiscal autonomy through an increase in states' share in goods and services tax (GST) to 60 per cent, from 50 per cent at present

PVR Cinemas opens first ever IMAX superplex at Lulu Mall in Kerala

Film exhibition company PVR Cinemas has opened Kerala's first ever IMAX along with a 12-screen superplex at Lulu Mall in the state capital here. The cinemas, which will be opened to the public from December 5, was formally inaugurated jointly by the Chairman and Managing Director of PVR Limited, Ajay Bijli, Chairman and Managing Director of LuLu Group International, M A Yusuff Ali and the Joint Managing Director of PVR Limited, Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, on Thursday evening. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli said the group was very optimistic about the Kerala market. "We have had a successful venture with the Lulu Mall. We are thrilled to bring the first superplex in Thiruvananthapuram which is in line with our expansion strategy in the South," Bijli told PTI. Strengthening its foothold across markets, the new property is served in a palatial setting with the highest standard of entertainment making it the state's most advanced cinema. "The 12-screen property is an innovative excellence; hosting ...

Kerala Tourism to market Onam celebrations globally: Minister Riyas

Kerala Tourism will make all efforts to market Onam celebrations as a tourism product globally by formulating innovative campaigns, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said on Thursday. He was speaking after inaugurating a function held here for distribution of prizes of various contests relating to the cultural pageantry and global Onam 'pookalam' conducted by the Tourism Department as part of the week-long Onam celebrations organised by the Kerala Government. "A symbol of resilience, hope and equality, Onam has become a significant product that can attract domestic and foreign tourists. With the formation of tourism clubs in some foreign cities including London, the Tourism department has already initiated efforts to market the next year's Onam globally. By prominently projecting the unique features of various destinations, we will be able to ensure greater flow of tourists to the state from across the world during the Onam season," the Minister said. Presiding over the function,

Ongoing protests may delay completion of Adani port in Vizhinjam in Kerala

The Kerala government's ambitious Rs 7,500 crore Vizhinjam Seaport, being developed by the Adani group in the southernmost part of the state, has been facing deadlock due to the over 100-day protest by the locals led by the leadership of the Latin Catholic Archdiocese here. Keen to finish the project as early as possible, the state government has appealed to the church authorities to end the protest as it was crucial for bringing changes to the industrial and economic sector of the country. The government claimed it has accepted almost all demands of the protesters. However, the protesters are not ready to budge, alleging the project will adversely affect the livelihood of the fishermen, coastal eco-system and the ecology of the Western Ghats due to mining of granite stones for the same. The agitators also alleged the government has not given any written assurances on their demands even after many minister-level discussions. The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater ...

Ordinance seeking my removal as Chancellor 'infructuous': Kerala Governor

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Wednesday said the ordinance issued by the Left government seeking to remove him as the chancellor of universities has become "infructuous" now as the Assembly is summoned. The government, earlier this month, had issued an ordinance stripping the Governor of the chancellorship of state universities. It also later decided to convene the Assembly session from December 5. A visibly irritated Khan also criticised the recent news reports of Raj Bhavan seeking extra vehicles from the government for the Governor's guests and asked whether he should ask them to walk. "If extra guests come to Raj Bhavan, extra vehicles would be sought from the government. What is special about it? If the guests of the Governor come, should I ask them to walk on foot?" Khan told reporters in New Delhi in reply to a question. "Once the House has been summoned, any ordinance, which was sent to Raj Bhavan earlier, becomes infructuous...so, there is no such ordinance now," h

Gautam Adani's mega port hangs in balance as fishing community protests

For Adani, the world's third-richest person according to Forbes, it's a high-stakes impasse with no apparent easy solution

Kerala CM to dedicate India's biggest business jet terminal on Dec 10

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will dedicate the country's first charter gateway -- the Business Jet Terminal -- at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) on December 10, the airport authorities said on Tuesday. With the commissioning of the terminal, which is constructed at the erstwhile domestic terminal (T2), CIAL will join the elite club of four airports in the country having a dedicated private jet terminal. "The Business Jet Terminal is going to be India's first Charter Gateway, which will serve as a platform to integrate business jet service, tourism and business conferences," CIAL said in a release. The facilities include covered car parking, drive-in porches, a grand lobby, five opulent lounges, business centre, check-in, immigration, customs, health and security checking zones along with duty-free shop and foreign exchange counter for the smooth movement of the discerning guests, it said. The terminal facility also includes a safe house for security ...

Sabarimala pilgrims can carry coconuts in flights as cabin baggage: BCAS

Pilgrims going to Sabarimala temple in Kerala can carry coconuts in cabin baggage in flights, with aviation security regulator BCAS relaxing the norms for a limited period. A senior official of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) said the permission has been given for the ongoing Sabarimala season that is to end in late January. Lakhs of devotees visit the hill shrine every year and majority of them carry 'Irumudi Kettu' (the sacred bag containing offerings, including coconut filled with ghee, to the Lord). Coconuts meant for offering as part of Sabarimala pilgrimage have been allowed to be carried in cabin baggage for a limited period of time, the official told PTI on Tuesday. The official also said that additional security measures and checks have been put in place in this regard. Under current norms, coconuts are not permitted in cabin baggage on the grounds that they are flammable. "... Coconuts, in the view of inconvenience to the pilgrims to Shri Sabarimala shall b

No parallel activities can be allowed in Congress in Kerala: V D Satheesan

Apparently rattled by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's Malabar tour, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan on Tuesday said any kind of sectarianism or parallel activities would not be allowed in the party and warned that such moves would be dealt with "seriously." The state unit of the Congress is on a comeback path in the state after two consecutive debacles in the Assembly elections and it is not healthy enough to afford any more parallel activities by anyone, Satheesan told reporters here. His remarks come as a significant section of the Congress party in the state was unhappy with Tharoor's ongoing tour. Asked about Tharoor's Malabar tour, Satheesan said every leader has a space within the Congress and no one is against it, but the party has its own mechanisms and systems. "The Congress in Kerala is not at all healthy to afford any more parallel activities...after suffering two drubbings in the assembly polls, the party is on a comeback mode in the state. ...

No parallel activities can be allowed in state Congress: Kerala LoP

Apparently rattled by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's Malabar tour, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly, V D Satheesan on Tuesday said any kind of sectarianism or parallel activities would not be allowed in the party and warned that such moves would be dealt with "seriously." The state unit of the Congress is on a comeback path in the state after two consecutive debacles in the Assembly elections and it is not healthy enough to afford any more parallel activities by anyone, Satheesan told reporters here. His remarks come as a significant section of the Congress party in the state were unhappy with Tharoor's ongoing tour. Asked about Tharoor's Malabar tour, Satheesan said every leader has a space within the Congress and no one is against it, but the party has its own mechanisms and systems. "The Congress in Kerala is not at all healthy to afford any more parallel activities...After suffering two drubbings in the assembly polls, the party is on a comeback mode in the state. ...

No early end in sight: Why are governor and Kerala govt in a tussle?

The fight between the Vijayan govt and Governor Khan has only intensified since Dec 2019

Kerala governor take up pension for personal staff of Ministers issue

Sources in the know of things said that Khan has decided to work on this and is studying the practices followed by other states

The governor's role

Conflicts with state govts must be avoided

Setback for CM as Kerala HC says pvt secretary's wife lacks qualifications

Ragesh is a former Rajya Sabha member of the CPI-M, who hails from Kannur and considered a close aide of Vijayan

Tell Centre to help speed up eco-sensitive zone proceedings: CM to MPs

Ahead of the winter session of Parliament, Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday held a meeting of MPs from the State and asked them to seek Centre's intervention on various issues, including expediting proceedings in the Supreme Court regarding the eco sensitive zone (ESZ). As the Centre and the State government have moved review pleas against the court decision in June this year directing that a buffer zone of one kilometre be maintained around forests and sanctuaries, the Chief Minister requested the MPs to urge the Central government to take steps for expediting the proceedings. At the meeting, it was decided that the Centre should be urged to approve proposals submitted to it for excluding residential areas and agricultural fields from the zone, said a statement from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). Also, Centre should be urged to enact a legislation, if necessary, considering the demand of States like Kerala on the matter, the statement said. The MPs were ...

Sabarimala all set to receive pilgrims as season begins on Nov 17

The Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala will be opened on Wednesday, a day ahead of commencement of two-month long pilgrimage season. The annual Mandalam-Makaravilakku pilgrimage season begins on November 17. The sanctum sanctorum of the temple will be opened at 5 PM on November 16 in the presence of chief priest (Tantri) Kandararu Rajeevaru by outgoing head priest N Parameswaran Namboothiri. Later, newly selected head priests of Lord Ayyappa and Malikappuram temples will take over for performing poojas for the next one-year period. The 41-day Mandala puja festival will conclude on December 27. The temple will be opened again on December 30 for the Makaravilakku pilgrimage on January 14, 2023. The shrine will be closed on January 20, concluding the pilgrim season. Officials said thousands of devotees are expected to participate this year as it is the first pilgrim season after lifting of the COVID-19 restrictions which were in place during the last two years. Elaborate security ..

Thousands of CPI-M activists lay siege to Kerala Governor's residence

Vijayan and the Governor have been at loggerheads ever since he refused to ink Ordinances or Bills which are concerning the higher education sector.

Left protest march against Kerala Guv creating anarchy in state: Congress

The Congress on Tuesday criticised the LDF move to carry out a march to the Raj Bhavan here in protest against Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan's actions regarding universities and bills passed by the state legislature, saying it is creating "anarchy" in the state. AICC general secretary K C Venugopal said the government appointed Vice-Chancellors in universities in the state in violation of norms and "now to change that situation, they are carrying out a protest march against the Governor." "It is creating anarchy in the state," he said, while speaking to the media in New Delhi. The senior Congress leader claimed that the state government was responsible for the actions of the Governor and said both were acting in furtherance of their established interests. Venugopal also claimed that Khan too was equally responsible as he forgot his Constitutional position and allegedly carried out "publicity stunts." Meanwhile, the LDF went forward with its planned protest march, which saw a

Kerala govt taking steps to make future generations more skilled: Vijayan

The Left government is continuously taking steps to mould the future generations into being more knowledgeable and skilled as a society's development is determined by the living standards of the children in it, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Monday on the occasion of Children's Day. Vijayan, in a social media post on the occasion that is also the birth anniversary of the country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, said the Department of Women and Child Development was created to coordinate the government activities and schemes for the welfare of children. He said one such scheme was the 'Poshakabalyam' project which aims to ensure nutrition of children. Besides, implementation of the smart Anganwadis in the state, sanctioning Rs 3.2 crore towards financial assistance of orphans and parenting clinics in all panchayats of Kerala were the other major positive steps taken by the Left government, he said in the post. The Chief Minister further said that even Nehru .

Muraleedharan terms move to remove Kerala Guv as 'constitutionally invalid'

Muraleedharan demanded the Pinarayi Vijayan government release the evidence that the Governor had tried to saffronise the universities in Kerala.