Hoteliers in the state have taken a strong exception to the five conditions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, including the restriction on the chefs from wearing ornaments, as they are “not practical and feasible to the functioning of low and medium level hotels”.

The State Food Safety Commissioner had issued a circular the other day with 30 guidelines in the Act after the tragic incident of a youth’s death on July 10 after having ‘shawarma’ from Salwa Cafe in Thiruvananthapuram.

Discussions on to set up pyrolysis plant

The Corporation, still in the dark about how to dispose of the organic waste generated in the city with the Vilappilsala plant remaining closed, has some hope on the plastic waste disposal front. The civic body has arrived at an understanding with the Bangalore-based Green Transit Renewable Energies, which has come forward with an offer to collect and process plastic waste from the city.

Finance Minister K. M. Mani told the Assembly on Tuesday that law allowing conversion of five per cent of plantations for cultivation of other crops and tourism would be implemented carefully.

“None would be allowed to misuse the law,” the Minister said while replying to the debate on the supplementary demands for grants for the current year. The Opposition had contended that the amendment to the Land Reforms Act, which received the assent of the President recently, would lead to conversion of more than 90000 acres of plantations.

Food Safety officials continued raids of hotels in cities and towns across Kerala State on the second day on Wednesday for detection of low quality food items. Altogether 11 hotels were ordered to be closed and 150 hotels were served notices seeking improvement in quality and standards. The raids covered 211 hotels on Tuesday and 60 hotels on Wednesday (till evening).

The raids come in the wake of the death of a youth in Bangalore allegedly after he consumed ‘shawarma’ from a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram.

Passengers on long-haul trains will soon be saved from the stink from the coach toilets with Railways kicking off a green initiative in the State on Thursday to introduce “odourless” and hygienic bio-toilets aboard.

Train no. 16316/16315 Kochuveli-Bangalore Express has become the first train from the State and in Southern Railways to have bio-toilets on all compartments. The rake has arrived at Kochuveli.

Fisheries expert and marine scientist Sanjeeva Ghosh has demanded core changes to the project report for the proposed seaport at Vizhinjam, warning that the construction activities for the port would impact on the marine ecosystem and the livelihood of the fishing community and pose a serious setback to beach tourism.

Pointing out that the project would lead to significant shoreline changes in the area, Mr. Ghosh, former Additional Director of Fisheries, Kerala, demanded a scientific and technical review of the proposal.

Minister for Rural Development and Culture K.C. Joseph told the Assembly on Monday that the dairy sector was witnessing qualitative change after the present government came to power.

Replying to the debate on the demands for grants for Dairy and Community Development, the Minister said the milk production had gone up by 30 per cent after the government increased milk prices. While the price was increased by Rs.5 a litre, Rs.4.20 was passed on to the farmers.

The environmental movement is based on the idea that people do not want something bad in their vicinity: not in my backyard, or Nimby

The environmental movement is based on the idea that people do not want something bad in their vicinity: not in my backyard, or Nimby. This concept has driven change across the world and continues to be the reason why projects, from shale gas exploration in the US to wind power in the UK, face protests. Ordinary people, but with power because they are part of the voting middle class, take up these issues because their lives are affected.

People who face the threat of land acquisition are already up in arms as the survey for the high speed railway corridor from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore is progressing in Thrissur district.

The project has invited the wrath of people in the survey period itself as there are complaints that the railway corridor passes through highly populated residential areas.

The High Court, on Wednesday, asked the State government to consider the option of permitting private agencies in the management of municipal solid waste in the State.

A Division Bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice A.M. Shaffique made the observation while considering the Vilappilsala waste treatment plant case.