Kerala will use rubber based bitumen for roads

Chief minister Oommen Chandy announced this today after a cabinet meeting

In order to extend a helping hand to the struggling 1 milllion plus natural rubber growers across Kerala, the state government today decided to increase the use of  rubber based bitumen for making and repairing roads.

Chief minister Oommen Chandy has announced this today  after a cabinet meeting. Addressing a press briefing   he said that the Public Works Department (PWD) would order more rubber based bitumen from Bharat Petroleum Corporation’s Kochi Refinery.

Rubber growers are now in doldrums as the price had dropped almost 50% during last three years. The price of bench mark grade RSS-4 dropped to Rs 122/Kg from Rs 240, recorded in September, 2011.

He also said that the hike in land registration fee and stamp duty will not be reduced or withdrawn. There are reports that today’s cabinet will consider a reduction in these on account of the public protest. He categorically denied this and said that the hike will be in effect from today onwards.

All the plastic boards across the state will be removed as part of a  Cleaning drive that starts from 2nd October. He said that all the flux boards of ministers will be removed immediately. Ministers will lead the drive in each district.  The government also mulls legislation against the exhibition of plastic boards in the state.

Meanwhile,  Minister for Urban Affairs and Welfare of Minorities,  Manjalamkuzhi Ali said that a programme to collect plastic waste from 65 municipalities at Rs 2 per kg will be launched on October 2. The programme will be inaugurated by the Chief Minister. A plan has also been chalked out to collect e-waste at Rs 5 per kg, he added.

'The Clean Kerala Company’ will collect the garbage through municipalities. Now, 1,000 tones of plastic waste remain untreated across the state on  a daily basis.

Clean Kerala will hand over the garbage collected from various municipal  wards to a private agency. Students, volunteers, social workers, casual labourers and Kudumbashree workers  will be part of the initiative.

Ali said plastic waste collection centres would be started in corporations and selected municipalities in the second phase of the project. The first centre of its kind will be launched in Kochi in October itself. The minister said a septic  treatment plant will be started in Kochi to treat septic waste.