Thiruvananthapuram: Finance Minister KN Balagopal has decided to distribute two more installments of social security and welfare fund pension before Vishu.

3,200 each will be received. Currently, the disbursement of an installment amount of Rs 1,600 started yesterday. The Minister pointed out that during Vishu, Easter and Ramzan, Rs 4,800 each will reach the hands of each person.

As usual, the pension will be delivered directly to the home for those who have given their bank account number through their account and for others through cooperative societies. Out of 62 lakh welfare pension beneficiaries, all those who have done mustering will get the amount. Then the Finance Minister informed that as announced in the budget, measures have been taken to distribute the pension in that month.

900 crores per month is required for pension distribution. Constituents in the LDF meeting had raised the concern that the elections would be adversely affected if the pension could not be paid as the Lok Sabha elections are around the corner. The pension amount was collected by forming a cooperative consortium. Now what is due is 4 months pension.

Thiruvananthapuram: Prominent Congress leader from the capital city, Thampanoor Satheesh, has also left the party. He arrived at the BJP’s election committee office to join the BJP. Another Congress leader, Padmini Thomas, also arrived at the BJP office. They were welcomed into the party by K. Surendran. The BJP leadership had yesterday made it clear that a section of Congress leaders would leave the party and join them.

Thampanoor Satheesh, who was the former general secretary of Thiruvananthapuram DCC, had resigned from all party positions on the previous day. He had made it clear that he was resigning from the party and would not join either the CPM or the BJP. However, it was only when he arrived at the election committee office with K. Surendran this morning that it became clear that he was joining the BJP.

Padmini Thomas arrived at the BJP’s election committee office along with Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the BJP candidate for the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.

Thiruvananthapuram: High-temperature warning in the state.  The temperature is expected to rise 2-4 °C more than normal. The Central Meteorological Department informs that from March 13 to 17 Palakkad and Kollam districts will see a maximum temperature of 39°C, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts will experience a maximum temperature of 38°C, Thrissur district will experience a maximum temperature of 37°C and Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur districts will experience a maximum temperature of 36°C.  

 Due to high temperature and humid air these districts, except hilly areas are likely to experience hot and humid weather from 13th to 17th March 2024.

Palakkad: Massive sandalwood hunt at Palakkad Ottapalam.  A cache of 2,000 kg of sandalwood was seized hidden in a shop in Vaniyamkulam.  One person has been arrested in the incident.

 Following a tip-off, the forest department and the police conducted an inspection at scrap shop and found sandalwood hidden in 50 boxes and sacks.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Human Rights Commission has instructed to remove illegally erected boards and arches.  Acting Chairperson and Judicial Member of the Commission K.  Baijunath said.

 The action was based on a complaint filed seeking removal of illegally erected arches to ensure safe freedom of movement.  There should be strict control in this regard.  The commission said in its order that the High Court has issued several orders in this regard.

Kannur: Two people who came to distribute ganja at Govt. Engineering College Hostel were arrested. M. Praveen (23) and Ashwant (21) were arrested.  5.2 grams of ganja was also recovered from them.

 The incident happened around 9:30 on Tuesday night. The accused who entered the engineering college men’s hostel premises near the Parashinikadav snake breeding center were surrounded by the students themselves and caught. Then the police reached the spot and took the accused into custody.