Directions for detailed report on Mookunnimala quarries

The Thiruivananthapuram district administration has directed the Neyyattinkara Tahalsidar to file a detailed report on the quarries and crusher units that are functioning in Mookunnimala.

District Collector Biju Prabhakar directed the Tahalsidar on Thursday to file the report by April 25. He has asked to furnish the report regarding the total number of quarry and crusher units along with the survey numbers of the land where they are functioning. Even the details of closed down quarries should be included in the report, he said. Apart from this, the Tahalsidar has also been asked to provide details about government land, including that of the fire force and the Army.

The collector gave the direction after a high level meeting at the Collectorate, which was attended by officials of the Revenue department, Pollution Control Board and the Geology Department.

Prabhakar also stressed that all the vehicles and equipment of the quarry and crusher units that were functioning without proper license and documents will be confiscated. Meanwhile, the officials of the Pollution Control Board said that licenses have not been renewed for any of the units at Mookunnimala.

The above direction gains significance in the wake of allegations that the panchayat was going to renew the licenses of the various quarry and crusher units. It has been alleged that the Panchayat had recently renewed the Dangerous and Offensive Trade License to a private quarrying group defying the Collector's orders and directives from the National Green Tribunal.

The Mookunnimala issue has been boiling for the last many years with the Mookunnimala Samrakshana Samithi intensifying their agitation against all quarry activities in the hill. The samithi leaders have reiterated that they would continue the agitation till all the quarries are stopped in the hill. They have alleged that all the rules have been violated by the quarry owners for the last many years and the officials had only helped the quarry mafia. They allege that most of the quarry operators did not have the required licenses and papers.

Source: the New Indian Express

http://epaper.newindianexpress.com/481127/The-New-Indian-Express-Thiruvananthapuram/17-04-2015#page/17/1

Regional drug testing lab facing uncertain future

The first regional drugs testing laboratory in Ernakulam, which was set to be launched this year seems to be facing an uncertain future with the delay in creating posts and a section of the employees allegedly scuttling the project for fear of transfers.
Though the building work for the laboratory has been completed and the necessary equipment installed by and large, the issue of sanctioning of posts has led to the delay of the launch, State Drugs Controller P Hariprasad said.
The file is now pending in the Chief Minister’s office and once it is cleared, there will be no further delay, he said.
Though the Drugs Control Department had recommended 79 posts for the regional drug testing laboratory, the Finance Department had sanctioned only 30 posts. However, the number of posts was further cut down to 26 allegedly after a section of the employees approached the government. The government seems to have decided to stick to 30 posts. Sources said that a few employees in the Drug Testing Laboratory at Thiruvananthapuram by using political clout had delayed the sanctioning of the posts for fear of getting transferred.
Once the regional lab is set up in Ernakulam, promotions can happen and some of those working at the Thiruvananthapuram lab would be shifted. Moreover, there is also an issue with respect to the post of Chief Analyst after the Drugs Department had recommended such a post at Ernakulam also.
Apart from the lab at Ernakulam, the fate of other regional drugs testing laboratories at Thrissur and Kozhikode is also uncertain. Though the government claims that the works have progressed, lack of sufficient funds is said to be causing problems.
The regional drug testing laboratories were envisaged after it was found that the lone laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram could not handle the bulk samples from across the state. Though about 5000 samples are collected a month from the market for conducting tests, the laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram has the facility to check only a limited number.
Moreover, there is also a backlog of three to six months in announcing the test results.

Source: The New Indian Express

http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Drug-testing-lab-in-Ernakulam-facing-uncertain-future/2013/10/07/article1822569.ece

IFFK

The venue of the International Film Festival of Kerala, an internationally reputed film festival. More than 200films from India and across the globe will feature in the 15thInternational Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK

iffk

The venue of the International Film Festival of Kerala, an internationally reputed film festival. More than 200 films from Indiaand across the globe will feature in the 15thInternational Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)

IFFK 15th edition sets off

The 15th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) was set off on Friday in an impressive way, which saw world known film makers, actors and politicians among others.

Kerala Chief minister V S Achuthanandan inaugurated the festival, in which he also conferred Lifetime Achievement Award to German filmmaker Werner Herzog. Jnanpith winner and Malapayalam poet and lyricist O N V Kurup was also honoured.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Achuthanandan said the IFFK has succeeded in attracting attention of the international film world.

Kerala Culture Minister M A Baby presented a memento to yesteryear legend Waheeda Rehman, who was the guest of honour.

Receiving the Lifetime achievement award, Werner Herzog said it was an amazing moment in his life. `` I see great appreciation of the films here and moreover, I see that the entire world is present here after looking at the selection of films.`` more here.... http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk10.html

IFFK gets underway tomorrow

More than 200 films from India and across the globe will feature in the 15th International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) that commences here tomorrow.

Kerala Chief minister V S Achuthanandan will inaugurate the festival in which German filmmaker Werner Herzog would be conferred the lifetime achievement award.

Iranian filmmaker Mohsen Abdolvahab’s ‘Please Do Not Disturb’ will be the inaugural film.

Films from Latin America, Asia and Africa would compete for the prestigious Rs. One million Suvarna Chakoram award (The Golden Crow Pheasant Award). The Last Summer of La Boyita (Julia Solomonoff), Wine (Diego Fried), Portraits in a sea of lies (Carlos Gaviria), Palerimanikyam Oru Paathira Kolapathakathinte Katha (Ranjith), T D Dasan Std. VI B (Mohan Raghavan) and Zephyr (Belma Bas) are among the competition films.. Read More here.. http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk9.html

Women`s voice to be heard at IFFK

The repertoire of films made by women included in the Women’s Films section of the 15th IFFK comes is remarkable showcasing how women have chosen to play successful parts in film making.

Leni Riefenstahl`s Triumph of Will is a famous documentary made at the special request of Adolf Hitler. The film adores the Great Dictator with divinity and imparts him an evangelical quality.

Leni`s technical flair is revealed through her deft handling of the camera, use of telephoto lens and fresh approach to music and cinematography.

Meshes of the Afternoon by Maya Deren imparts an intriguing and yet charming feel through the use of recurring motifs coupled with interruptive images. more... http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk8.html

LATIN AMERICA DOMINATE COMPETITION SECTION

Latin American films dominate the Competitive Section, which is the most attractive part of the International Film Festival of Kerala. Among the 14 films, five films from Latin America are vying for the prestigious Rs. One million Suvarna Chakoram award (The Golden Crow Pheasant Award).

Apart from the five Latin American films, the films in the competition section includes two Malayalam films, one film each from Bengali, Hindi, Iranian, Korean, Arabic, Turkish and Egyptian are included.

The films from Latin America include The Last Summer of La Boyita (Julia Solomonoff), Wine (Diego Fried), Optical Illusions (Christian Jimenez), Portraits in a sea of lies (Carlos Gaviria) and A Day in Orange by (Alejandra Szeplaki).

The Last Summer tells the story of a pre-adolescent world and Wine deals with the encounter and disencounter between a man and a woman. The Optical Illusions is a satirical comedy that brings to the surface, pokes fun at our own assumptions of reality, and our own ways of looking at the world. The Portraits in a Sea of Lies gives the experiences of cousins merge with a portrait of Colombia, a country that has been in a civil war for the last sixty years ....More..http://keralz.com/news/entertainment/2010/iffk/iffk6.html