Cabinet nod for four medical colleges

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet has given the nod for setting up four medical colleges in the government sector in Idukki, Manjeri (Malappuram), Konni (Pathanamthitta) and Badiyadukka (Kasargod).  The proposal for setting up five medical colleges was presented in the state budget last year. The remaining one at Harippad is likely to be taken up later, on a PPP basis. Chief Minister told a post-Cabinet briefing here on Friday  that it had also been decided that the state’s strength in the arena of coconut had to be  apped in full. With this objective, a conference will be convened here on April 18. The Cabinet has also taken a crucial decision on payment of tender excess amount to schemes under the Centrally-sponsored Prime Minister’s Grameen Sadak Yojana.  At present, Central norms disallows payment of excess amount from the original outlay. This has led to a piquant situation wherein works of only 50 out of 303 roads under the PMGSY scheme could be taken up.  The Cabinet decision will tag a provision of payment of excess amount from state funds, as per PWD norms.Chandy said that modern fire fighting equipment will be purchased the cities of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.