KL This Week: Homage Paid to Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, Panel to Study sea Erosion in Vizhinjam

Hundreds of thousands paid their last respects to former home minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] Polit Bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who died after a two-year fight with cancer, on October 3. 

The Kerala government formed a four-member expert committee to study and suggest measures for sea erosion along the construction site of the Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VSIL). A clash occurred between the supporters and the opponents of the harbour at Mulloor on October 2. 

The state conference of the Communist Party of  India (CPI) concluded on October 3 with the chief ministers (CMs) of Tamil Nadu and Kerala participating in seminars.

A speeding tourist bus carrying schoolchildren and teachers rammed into a state transport bus in Wadakkanchery killing nine people, including five students. 

Newsclick brings a round-up of the happenings in the state this week. 

TEARFUL HOMAGE TO KODIYERI

Former state home minister and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Balakrishnan was laid to rest at the Payyambalam beach on October 3 with full state honours. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

Balakrishnan was elected as the secretary of the state unit thrice in 2015, 2018 and 2021, succeeding Pinarayi Vijayan. He was relieved from his duties following his deteriorating health.  He was elected to the Assembly five times—first at the age of 29 in 1982, 1987, 2001, 2006 and 2011. 

Hundreds of thousands of people were in queue to catch a glimpse of the departed leader at his residence, the Thalassery Town Hall, and the party’s Kannur district committee office. Leaders, including Sitaram Yechury, Prakash Karat, G Ramakrishnan and state secretary MV Govindan were present during the cremation. Read More 

PANEL TO STUDY IMPACT OF HARBOUR

The Left Democratic Front (LDF) government has constituted a four-member committee to study the impact of the construction of ports, raised by fishermen in and around Vizhinjam. The expert committee is expected to study the impact of sea erosion and suggest measures to prevent such events. 

MD Kudale, former additional director, Central Water and Power Research Station, will chair the committee, which also comprises Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies vice-chancellor Riji John, Indian Institute of Science associate professor Tejal Kanitkar and Kandla Port Trust’s former chief engineer PK Chandramohan. 

The protest of the fishing community continued for the 48th day demanding the government abort the construction of the harbour. The local residents association alleged that a speaker at the protest site passed derogatory comments on the residents, leading to a tussle. The police intervened and instructed both sides not to use loudspeakers on the site. 

CPI STATE CONFERENCE CONCLUDES

The 24th state conference of the CPI concluded in Thiruvananthapuram on October 3. Kanam Rajendran was re-elected the secretary along with 101 members to the council and 10 candidate members. The conference also fixed the maximum age limit for the members of the state council at 75, leaving senior leaders and former ministers KE Ismail and C Divakaran out of the body.

The CMs of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, MK Stalin and Vijayan, respectively, addressed a seminar on federalism and Centre-state relationship and accused the Union government of attacking the federal structure. Both leaders called for reforms in strengthening the federal structure and a united voice to achieve it.

NINE KILLED IN ACCIDENT

A collision between a speeding tourist bus and a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus killed nine people, including five students and a teacher, in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur district, on October 6. The tourist bus, which had already been blacklisted by the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD), rammed into the KSRTC bus from behind. 

The driver fled but was nabbed later from Kollam. An old video of the same driver dancing while driving a bus went viral. 

Three passengers in the KSRTC bus who were killed will be provided with an insurance sum of Rs 10 lakh each. The Prime Minister announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the deceased. 

The MVD announced various measures to prevent tourist buses from speeding.

COCONUT PRICES FALL DURING FESTIVAL SEASON

The prices of coconut continued to fall during the festival season much to the agony of the farmers. The Rajapur variety copra, which fetched Rs 19,750 per quintal in 2021, was selling at Rs 13,700. The under variety copra sold at Rs 11,500, down from Rs 17,500 last year. The Kotta Thenga variety also registered a drop in price from Rs 14,000 last year to Rs 10,000. The farmers now hope to earn a nominal price for their produce during Diwali.

AWARDS FOR STATE IN AWAS YOJANA

The state government won three awards for successful implementation of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in 2021. Mattannur municipality, in Kannur district, won the third prize for successful implementation among the municipalities. While two awards were presented in a special category, one was for best convergence of the scheme with livelihood.