Arecanut import would adversely affect the growers in Kerala. The state would convey to the Centre its protest against import of arecanut as a product for export raw material, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters after a special cabinet meeting here.
State Agriculture Minister K P Mohanan had recently visited the arecanut growers especially in Kasargode district and submitted a report to the Cabinet, he said.
The month-long monsoon session of Kerala assembly would begin on June 11, Chandy said. The cabinet recommended Governor H R Bhardwaj to convene the session to discuss the department wise discussion on the proposals in the budget passed in March last.
As per the present schedule, the session would continue till July 13, he said.
On other decisions of the cabinet, Chandy said government decided to implement rehabilitation package for people affected by adverse effects of endosulfan pesticide in Kasargode district, recommended by National Human Rights Commission.
He said the recommendations include Rs.Five lakh and Rs. three lakh each to the families of those who died and those who became disabled respectively due to health problems caused after the spraying of endosulfan in the cashew plantations. Total estimated cost of the rehabilitation package was Rs.100 crore, he added.
