Demand for freshwater fish caught at Mayanur increases

The blanket ban on deep sea fishing along in the State, to facilitate breeding, has jacked up inland and sea-fish prices in the district where people relish sea food delicacies. Karur being an industrial town has people from regions including the northern states. Not just during weekends but also during the week demand for meat and seafood is high.

Petronet LNG, India’s biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) importer, on Wednesday signed an agreement to invest Rs 4,500 crore in building a five-million-tonne import terminal at Gangavaram Port on the Andhra coast. This will be the country’s fifth LNG terminal after Dahej, Dahbol, Hazira and Kochi.

Gangavaram will be Petronet's third LNG import terminal. The company, at present, operates a 10-million tonne facility at Dahej in Gujarat and is building another five-million tonne terminal at Kochi in Kerala, to be ready by the year-end. A steep decline in domestic gas output, led by declining volumes from Reliance Industries-operated KG-D6 field, has made LNG imports an attractive business.

Kochi Corporation is in the process of installing energy efficient street lights on selected stretches of roads. To begin with, LED lights will be installed on MG Road and Marine Drive. The corporation had invited tenders for the same and the process of selection is expected to be completed soon.

Mayor Tony Chammany told The Hindu that the corporation is adopting a policy in favour of energy savings. More measures aimed at energy conservation will be taken in due course of time.

KOCHI: Almost a week back, two jaundice-related deaths were reported in the district, but it failed to put a check on the increasing number of cases of waterborne disease. At least, 80 cases of waterborne diseases have been reported in Ernakulam district alone. The Hepatitis A virus doing rounds in Ernakulam has been creating tension, especially, in the western region of Kochi, said officials at the District Medical Officer’s office here.

KOCHI: In an effort to encourage Kochiites to treat biodegradable waste at the source itself, Kochi Corporation and Yashoram Charitable Trust have launched an ‘Organic Garbage Degradation and Organic Farming’ drive in the city on Thursday.

The drive involves utilisation of degraded organic garbage as manure for fruiting plants and vegetables. “Though the process might look tedious, it is actually very practical.

Hampered by inadequate manpower, lack of statutory power

Amid widespread apprehensions over the quality of water supplied through an estimated 400 tanker lorries in the district, the Groundwater Department remains a mute spectator thanks to the lack of statutory authority and adequate manpower.

Help of local self-government institutions to be sought

The Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) is preparing to launch a campaign highlighting the need to prevent the destruction of plants during sanitation drives taken up by local self-government institutions.Board chairman R.V. Varma told The Hindu that directions would be communicated to local bodies to sensitise workers engaged for projects taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) .

India has offered Qatar stake in some of the major petro projects, including the petrochemicals complex at Dahej in Gujarat, Indian Oil Corporation's (IOC's) LNG project in Ennore, Tamil Nadu, BPCL's petrochemical project in Kochi, petrochemical project in Mangalore and investment opportunity in the Paradip refinery and petrochemical project to further enhance its strategic partnership and ties.

KOCHI: Coming down heavily on the Kerala Water Authority, the High Court on Wednesday said that successive court orders directing the authorities to provide adequate potable water for Kochiites have fallen on deaf ears.

“Potable water is essential to the residents of the district and the situation is very grave. Newspaper reports are pouring in daily on the agitation for water.

The city corporation council has decided to seek government’s immediate intervention in resolving the issue of water scarcity in various parts of the city.

The council will exert pressure on state government to hasten land acquisition and other works for the proposed Piravom water supply scheme, which will augment water supply to West Kochi and adjoining areas.