Category: Featured

Central prison turns Covid-free in a month

Trivandrum Life

TrivandrumLife>> Central prison, Poojappura, which had turned into a Covid 19 institutional cluster, has become Covid-free now. In the latest round of testing done at the prison, the remaining 49 Covid positive inmates have turned negative. With all its inmates turning negative, the prison has resumed functioning of food unit, cafeteria, petrol pump, gents beauty parlour, organic farming etc. The prison had temporarily stopped all activities in the mid August when around 470 inmates tested positive for Covid. One 72-year-old inmate Manikantan, died while undergoing treatment for Covid at Medical…

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Micro containment strategy yet to be implemented in coastal areas

Jisha Surya

TrivandrumLife>> Segregating areas into micro containment zones is a strategy which is successfully being implemented in the city and rural areas of the district. This strategy was found effective as it would bring only an affected area – a street, a market or ward – which has active cases and primary contacts, under the strict regulations. However, micro containment strategy is yet to be adopted at coastal areas in the district, which were declared containment zones in mid-June.   Karumkulam panchayat in the coastal region of the district was declared…

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Road Fund Board takes firm grip on city’s PPP model road project

Jisha Surya

TrivandrumLife.Com>> PPP (Public Private Partnership) model has come into heated discussions again in connection with the proposal for privatization of Thiruvananthapuram airport. As debate for and against PPP model intensifies, one of the first PPP-model road projects in the state is witnessing new developments. The Kerala Road Fund Board, facilitator of the City Roads Improvement Project, has begun paying adjusted annuity over lapses from the part of project concessionaire and has saved Rs 34 crore since 2018.   The collapse of IL&FS, the parent firm of TRDCL has led to…

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Kazhakoottam-Kadambattukonam national highway: NHAI issues land acquisition notification

Jisha Surya

TrivandrumLife>> After several years of delay, the National Highway Authority of India has finally issued notification for acquisition of land from the Kadambattukonam-Kazhakoottam stretch for the widening of the national highway from Cherthala to Thiruvananthapuram. However, the notification has excluded around 800 metres near the famous Thiruvarattukavu temple at Attingal. The 3 (D) notification was issued after completing survey of land required for widening of 29-km from Kadambattukonam to Kazhakoottam. With the 3 (D) notification, NHAI and district administration will be gearing up for evaluation of buildings and finalisation of…

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Adani to operate Trivandrum Airport

Trivandrum Life

TrivandrumLife>> The Union Cabinet, on Wednesday, approved proposal to lease out Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Adani Enterprises for a period of 50 years. Though Adani Enterprises had won the bid to operate and manage the airport over a year ago, the state government had been opposing it. The state-run Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) had participated in the bid, which was finally won by Adani in February 2019. Challenging the decision, the state had argued in high court and supreme court that they must be given preferential treatment considering…

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61 inmates test positive for Covid 19 at Poojappura Central Prison

Trivandrum Life

Trivandrum>> On Wednesday, 59 inmates of Poojapura Central Jail were tested positive for Covid 19. Most of the convict prisoners and under trials lodged in one of the 11 blocks of the central jail, who tested positive, are asymptomatic. The mass reporting of Covid positive cases came after two prisoners, who showed symptoms of fever, tested positive on Monday. The total number of cases in prison is now 61. Two days ago, the two inmates were taken to Medical college hospital after they developed symptoms of fever. After they turned…

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Health dept seeks police protection, stops test at Pulluvila

Trivandrum Life

TrivandrumLife>> Due to the recurrent attack against health workers in Pulluvila, the health department has temporarily stopped testing in the area, which is a critical containment area due to spike in Covid cases. Three days ago, a group of people had barged into the Covid First Line Treatment Centre at Pulluvila and attacked health workers. They also threatened to throw out inmates of the centre, who were under treatment for Covid. Following this, the Covid testing has completely stopped at the area for the past three days. Sources in the…

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Rains fill dams to the brim, monsoon still deficient

Jisha Surya

TrivandrumLife>> As two months have passed since the onset of the south west monsoon, the district has received 5 % deficient rainfall in the season. All major dams remain open as the district received heavy rainfall in the past few days. India Meteorological Department is expecting an increase in rainfall activity from August 3 as a low pressure is likely to form over the north Bay of Bengal by August 4. On Thursday, the Kerala Water Authority and the Irrigation department officials received direction from the district administration to open…

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Prison inmates to fill fuel at Poojappura’s Freedom fuel station

Jisha Surya

TrivandrumLife>> In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Jail Department has associated with Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to start a fuel station at the Jail premises in Poojappura, where prison inmates will work as filling staff. The new initiative was inaugurated by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on July 30 through video conferencing. In addition to Poojappura, Kerala government has allotted three more sites to IOC on lease in premises of prisons at Viyyur in Thrissur, Kannur and Cheemeni in Kasargode. A total of 65 prison inmates will work in the four fuel…

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Trivandrum’s oldest Bakery turns 80

Nisha Nath

By Nisha Nath Though skyscrapers, widened roads and a faster lifestyle have transformed the city, Santha Bakery at Pullimodu junction remains unchanged. For most grown ups in Trivandrum, the aroma of freshly baked cakes and biscuits and taste of delicacies behind the glass shelves come with a dose of nostalgia. Santha Bakery, one of the first bakeries in the city, has successfully completed 80 years and is moving towards a well-deserved century. As I entered the bakery, I was welcomed by a brawny gentleman in his sixties. Santha Bakery is…

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