Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, May 18 (IANS) Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who assumed office Wednesday, announced a series of sops, including a sales tax cut on the recently hiked petrol price and higher compensation for the relatives of endosulfan victims.

The new government has decided to waive the sales tax on the hiked portion of the petrol price, which would bring the price down by Rs.1.22 per litre.

“The price of petrol in the state would come down by Rs.1.22, which would be a small relief for the public. As a result, the state’s revenue will come down by Rs.131.94 crore,” Chandy told reporters after the first cabinet meeting of the new government.

The oil marketing companies recently increased the petrol price by Rs.5.39 per litre. Petrol in the state is now priced at Rs.67 per litre.

The new United Democratic Front (UDF) government also increased the compensation for endosulfan victims in Kasargode district from Rs.50,000 to Rs.1 lakh.

“We accepted the four recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission on the issue. The Left government had announced a compensation of Rs.50,000 each to the family of 486 people who died because of excessive use of endosulfan. We have increased it to Rs.1 lakh each,” the chief minister said.

He added: “The Left government had compensated only 178 victims. This would be given out immediately. We have decided to enforce strictly the ban on the use of endosulfan in the state.”

Chandy, along with leaders of six leaders of the UDF allies, was sworn in earlier in the day at the Raj Bhavan.

The cabinet also decided to review all appointments made since Jan 1 to government, semi-government and autonomous institutions.

“If there is any wrong-doing in any appointments strict action would be taken. Nothing would be done with an act of vengeance,” Chandy said.