Kochi-Dhanushkodi NH: 10L allocated to landslide-hit families

Thiruvananthapuram: State cabinet on Monday decided to sanction Rs 10 lakh each from Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) to families whose houses were completely destroyed in the landslide on Oct 25, 2025 on the Kochi-Dhanushkodi national highway. The assistance is meant for families in the M N Smaraka Laksham Veedu Colony, who lost their houses, subject to conditions, to purchase land and construct houses.Quarry regularisation:
Cabinet decided to grant operational permission to quarries functioning on assigned land by obtaining affidavits from quarry owners undertaking to remit the prescribed fees during regularisation and by collecting the required bank guarantee. The decision comes in view of delays caused by technical issues in the portal for fee remittance, even though there are rules for regularisation. Permission will be granted based on an affidavit approved by finance and law departments, provided all other required licences for quarry operations are secured.Job for Commonwealth Games medallist:Tresa Jolly, who won two medals for India at the 22nd Commonwealth Games in 2022, will be provide employment in state goods and services tax department by creating a supernumerary post.Welfare benefit for fishermen:Benefits under ‘Sampadya Samashwasa Padhathi', aimed at supporting fishermen during lean months and promoting savings, were enhanced from Rs 4,500 to Rs 6,000.Amendment bill cleared:Cabinet approved a draft bill to amend various sections of Madras Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act, 1951, to enable temples under Malabar Devaswom Board to prepare annual accounts based on the financial year instead of the Fasli year.Technical consultant appointed:Cabinet decided to appoint Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd (TCIL), a mini ratna company under govt of India, as turnkey technical consultant for establishing Alternate State Emergency Operations Centre (ASEOC) at the Secretariat. The agency will function as a single-vendor solution provider, handling selection of agencies and micromanagement until project completion.New posts in health and devaswom:Nine new posts will be created at Trikaripur taluk hospital in Kasaragod district, including one junior consultant (paediatrics), five nursing officers grade II, one nursing assistant and two hospital attendants grade II. A total of 66 new posts will be created in Malabar Devaswom Board, including 26 Clerks, eight typists, 27 office attendants/watchmen, four confidential assistants and one goldsmith.Extension of tenure:The contract tenure of L Radhakrishnan, IAS (retd), managing director and chief executive officer of Malabar International Port & SEZ Ltd, will be extended by one year.In-principle approval for dam:In line with the order of Cauvery water disputes tribunal, cabinet granted in-principle approval for constructing a concrete dam across Pambar river and allied works to make water allocated to Thalayar scheme utilisable.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !