Government mulls setting up River Board: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said the government was actively considering the proposal to constitute a River Board to protect main rivers in the state. At the interaction with editors of print and electronic media here, the chief minister said the government was planning to implement a special programme aimed at cleaning and conserving rivers. He said the government would further toughen its stand against corruption. "Media raised criticism in several sectors. But it didn’t say corruption was affecting the government. Besides media, general society has also accepted the anti-corruption stand of our government,’’ he said.

On the industrial front, the chief minister said steps were expedited for setting up single window clearance system for investors. More measures would be announced in the industrial policy. Pinarayi said all sections of society would be taken on board while implementing the four mega missions announced as part of Nava Kerala Mission. The programmes  under the mission would be implemented with consensus and by ensuring the participation of opposition parties. Waste management needed more focus, he said. The chief minister said Kerala Bank would strengthen the cooperative banks.

As of now there is a three tier banking system; state co-operative bank, district bank and primary cooperative banks. Of these the district banks would go. The funds from NABARD will be routed through the state cooperative bank directly to the primary banks. He said the government was giving top priority to E-Governance. On the delay of CBSE class 10 results, the chief minister said the demand for extending the last date for admission to higher secondary schools would be examined. Referring to the law and order situation, he said the state government was for peaceful environment. All steps would be taken to reduce tension and talks will continue. The infrastructure development activities were being given priority. GAIL pipeline and national highway development are top on the agenda. The chief minister said on the occasion of the first anniversary of the LDF government that the media had come out with constructive criticism.