UDF government not for any confrontation with BJP government at Centre

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Congress-led UDF government in Kerala today made it clear that it was not for any conflict with the new BJP government at the Centre.

"The state will try its best to protect the interests of the people and does not believe in the policy of conflict and governance", Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said during a cabinet briefing here.

He said political differences would not come in the way of extending co-operation for governance.

On cabinet decisions, he said no higher secondary schools would be sanctioned this academic year.Instead additional plus two batches would be allotted in existing higher secondary schools.

The decision to allot new plus two schools had been deferred due to time constraint as classes have to begin next month, he said.

The UDF had yesterday asked government not to sanction new higher secondary schools due to financial implications and lack of clarity in norms for sanctioning schools.

Chandy said necessary posts would be sanctioned to start Community Dentistry Division at Government dental colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kottayam.

Posts would be sanctioned as per norms of the Dental Council to start a new dental college at Alappuzha Medical College.

A total of 50 cents of revenue land will be taken up to set up Travancore Folklore Village at Nellavoor in Kottayam district, he said.

As part of environment preservation programmes, a 'Participatory Environmental Action Project' would be launched on June 5, the Chief Minister said.

The project of Forest and Environment department would involve planting trees across the state, he added.