Thiruvananthapuram : The High Power Committee headed by the Chief Secretary has approved in-principle approval for various infrastructure development projects worth Rs. 1441.24 crore for Kerala under Tranche 31 of NABARD’s Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). The projects were recommended considering the normative allocation of Rs. 550 crore under RIDF Tranche 31.
The Forest Department has been approved for projects worth Rs 159.64 crore. This includes construction of Rapid Response Units, Forest Station Complexes and development of infrastructure in Forest Offices. The Agriculture Department under the Power Department has sanctioned Rs 199.70 crore for installation of 5689 solar pumps for beneficiaries .
The Water Resources Department has recommended Rs 176.42 crore for irrigation projects . The main objective is the renovation of canals in the Pazhassi and Karapuzha irrigation projects. The Kerala Land Development Corporation has recommended Rs 261 crore for six projects, including renovation and development of paddy fields and ponds in Thrissur, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Malappuram districts .
Under the Social Justice Department, Rs. 73.00 crore has been recommended for the construction of a 250- bed rehabilitation hospital and an academic block at NIPMER. For the Agriculture Department, projects worth Rs. 176.14 crore have been approved, including the establishment of 26 smart agricultural houses in 12 districts , infrastructure development in various paddy fields in Alappuzha district , and human-wildlife conflict mitigation activities in Kannur district . For the Coastal Shipping & Inland Navigation Department, Rs. 217 crore has been recommended for the construction of boat jetties at Mayyal and Mullakody , and construction of six bridges, including bridges across the T.S. Canal.
Kerala State Warehousing Corporation has been allocated Rs 44.92 crore for the construction of modern warehouses and godowns and Kerala Agro Machinery Corporation has been allocated Rs 36.45 crore for infrastructure development for the manufacture of Vajra 120 power tiller. The Local Self-Government Department has been allocated Rs 165 crore for projects under the Comprehensive Municipal Liquid Waste Management and Road Restoration Project. The Soil Survey and Soil Conservation Department has approved recommendations worth Rs 69.46 crore for soil conservation works in watersheds in the North and South zones.
