Committee to recommend steps to protect NRKs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State Government has decided to set up a three-member committee to study and recommend necessary safety measures to be taken so that the Direct Taxes Code planned to be introduced in the country soon, would not adversely affect the Non-Resident Keralites(NRKs).The matter came up for discussion during the conference of MPs  held here on Saturday, ahead of the monsoon session of the Parliament  beginning on August 1. The committee would consist of the secretaries of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs Department, Finance Department and the Taxes Department.In the meeting,  the MPs complained that there was no proper system in the state for the effective monitoring and utilisation of  MP funds. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy assured that a proper system would be put in place to ensure that the MP funds, which comes to Rs 150 crore per year in the state,  were effectively utilised.  The Chief Minister said that the Central funds under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana  (PMGSY) scheme were least utilised by the state. He said that the additional amount  to be given as tender excess and which does not come under the PMGSY would be borne by the state upto a certain limit so that more would come forward to take up  schemes under the PMGSY. The meeting decided that more facilities should be provided at Sabarimala for the pilgrims. “It has been decided that a 140-metre-long overbridge would be constructed from the Sannidhanam to divert the heavy flow of pilgrims along the route. For this, the help of the Military Engineering Service had been requested and the engineers would visit Sabarimala on Sunday,” the Chief Minister said.Meanwhile, the LDF MPs raised the issue of latest price hike of diesel and LPG, expressing concern that the state would be worst-hit by the price hike. They demanded that the State Government should provide tax relief as was done when the petrol prices were hiked last time.Later, Chandy told mediapersons that the State Government would seek ways to provide some relief to the consumers.      The issue regarding setting up of the Plachimada Tribunal also came up for discussion during  the meeting.  The issue was raised by M B Rajesh MP as the Bill to set up the Plachimada Tribunal passed by the Assembly was still with the Union Home Ministry awaiting President’s assent.  The Chief Minister said that he had written to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram regarding the matter. Even though 34 items were listed on the agenda note circulated to the MPs to be discussed in the meeting,  only eight were discussed. The Chief Minister said that the remaining ones would be given priority in the next meeting.