Chandy rules out row over meet with US officials

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday said that US officials had called on him too, but the meeting would not kick up any controversy as he told them only what he had said in public.Chandy was responding to Wikileaks disclosures, during a post-Cabinet briefing, regarding the meetings between CPM leaders and the US officials.On disclosures regarding Panchayats Minister M K Muneer’s conversation with the political counsellor of the US Consulate in which he reportedly blamed party colleague P K Kunhalikutty for shielding the NDF, Chandy replied that the Minister himself had denied it.ATTAPPADIThe Chief Minister reiterated that the State Government had an open mind on the Attappadi package. The government was prepared to entertain any better proposal, he said.According to him, the tribals would be given title deeds for the land if they do not have them and if they wish to lease out the land, the government would facilitate it. He also promised action against the encroachers.The Cabinet has als decided to establish a government college at Attappadi to facilitate higher education to the tribal communities. The land required for setting up the college will be handed over by the Attappadi Valley Irrigation Project, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.REPORT SUBMITTEDThe Chief Secretary-led committee appointed to frame guidelines for multi-level marketing initiatives submitted its report to the Cabinet on Thursday. The recommendations will be discussed at the next meeting on September 7.DIG TO BE REMOVEDThe Cabinet decided to remove DIG E J Jayaraj of the Legal Metrology Department, who misbehaved with passengers aboard a Jan Shatabdi Express on August 29, from his post. The Chief Minister said disciplinary action would be initiated against the police officer.SOLATIUMThe Cabinet approved a solatium of Rs 2 lakh for the family of Charcha Vedi Babu who died on August 28. This sum will be in addition to the money spent by the government to settle his hospital bills.DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIESThe Cabinet has sanctioned the formation of the Coastal Development Authority and the Hill Area Development Authority.DEBT RELIEFThe Cabinet sanctioned Rs 10.78 crore to the Cooperation Department to implement a debt relief package for coffee workers in Wayanad.