KL This Week: Governor Continues to Sit on 8 Bills Passed by Legislative Assembly

The people's resistance yatra led by M V Govindan, the state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], will leave Kozhikode district on February 25. The yatra which began on February 20 in Kasargod district will cover all 140 Assembly constituencies and conclude on March 18 in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has persisted with his stubborn stand and has refused to approve the several bills passed by the state Assembly. A visit by a group of ministers to brief the governor on February 23 has not yielded any results so far.

The expert committee to identify the existing structures in the buffer zone has listed around 70,000 residential and other buildings. The government will move the Supreme Court seeking exemption for such structures around 23 national and bio reserves. 

In a first in the country, the High Court of Kerala, on the International Mother Language Day observed on February 21, published two judgments in Malayalam on a test basis. 

The famous jewellery group, Joyallukas, was raided by the enforcement directorate for violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act; immovable assets and bank accounts worth Rs 305 crore were attached.  

The principal-in-charge of Government College, Kasargod has been replaced for locking up students in her chamber, who protested demanding proper drinking water facility for the students. NewsClick brings a round-up of the happenings in Kerala this week. 

CPI(M) YATRA CONTINUES 

The CPI(M) yatra aimed at exposing the threats of the Union government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continued its campaigning. Led by M V Govindan, the state secretary, the yatra will enter Malappuram district on February 26 after covering the Assembly constituencies in Kasargod, Kannur, and Kozhikode districts.

The CPI(M) will explain the financial and federal threats posed by the Union government in several states, particularly Kerala. Subjects such as the continuous denial of rights of the states, increasing communal politics, and authoritarian policies find a prominent place in the yatra. 

The yatra will also showcase some of the important achievements of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government including economic growth, industrial development, the revival of public sector undertakings (PSU) and the extension of welfare pensions. 

GOVERNOR YET TO APPROVE BILLS

Continuing his refusal to approve bills passed by the Assembly, the governor has reportedly sought a briefing from the chief minister himself. The governor has claimed that the chief minister is constitutionally bound to brief him on the bills. 

Eight bills including the appointment of chancellors to universities bill, amendment bills on University laws and the Lokayukta bill have been pending for a long time with the governor. 

Ministers led by the minister for law and industries, P Rajeev, met the governor seeking the expedition of the pending bills. 

The CPI(M) and the ruling LDF have been accusing the governor of violating his constitutional mandate and attempting to destabilise the government's development agendas. 

EXPERT COMMITTEE EARMARKS BUILDINGS IN BUFFER ZONE

The committee formed to study the existing structures in the one-kilometre radius around the protected areas (PA) has completed the process. The committee has identified 52,376 residential buildings, 13,000 infrastructural amenities and around 7,000 civic amenities. Around 500 educational institutions, 40 banks and 6,000 infrastructure facilities have been included in the list. 

The final list has been prepared based on the satellite surveys, residents’ complaints and data from the mobile app launched for the purpose. The report will be submitted to the Supreme Court after seeking opinions from political parties and the public from the areas around the 23 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state. 

The people have raised concerns about the implementation of the buffer zone around the PAs following which the LDF government approached the SC with a review petition. 

80 LAKH PEOPLE SCREENED FOR LIFESTYLE DISEASES

The Department of Health and Family Welfare has completed the screening of 80 lakh people for lifestyle diseases. Around 20% were found to have diabetes or hypertension, putting them at risk. Five lakh people have been referred to further screening for suspected cancer.

In the details published by the department, 19.97% are categorised under the high-risk category, 11% had hypertension, 8.8% have diabetes and 3.8% are diagnosed with both lifestyle diseases. 

The budget for 2021-22 allocated Rs 10 crores for the detection of lifestyle disease, control and related activities.

CHAIRMAN APPOINTED TO FILM INSTITUTE

After a prolonged controversy, the government appointed renowned filmmaker Saeed Mirza as the chairman of the K R Narayanan National Institute of Arts and Visual Science. Adoor Gopalakrishnan and Shankar Mohan resigned as chairman and director of the institute after protests from the students.

The new chairman, Mirza announced that the concerns raised by the students and faculty will be addressed at the earliest and will ensure the smooth functioning of the institute. 

The higher education minister, Dr R Bindu, announced the formation of a search committee to identify the director for the institute.