Only 5 km of the 168-km Kollam-Kottappuram waterway that has been declared as National Waterway-III needs to be made fully navigable.
Announcing this in the Assembly on Tuesday, Minister for Water Resources P.J. Joseph said one-lane traffic was possible on the 2.7-km Kollam-Chavara stretch, the 2-km Kayamkulam canal, and 400 metres near Zero Jetty in Alappuzha where works are pending.
The Minister said 150 km of the total 422-km State waterway had been made navigable. Works in another 82 km were on.
He said the government was of the view that the entire stretch from Kovalam to Neeleswaram should be declared as National Waterway.
Safety of dam
Minister for Electricity Aryadan Mohammed told the House that the Central Water Commission was studying the safety aspect of Idukki dam.
Minister for Health and Devaswom V.S. Sivakumar said 236 vacancies of Assistant Surgeons and 410 vacancies of specialist doctors were vacant in the State. But, the government had posted 796 doctors through NRHM and 165 doctors on ad hoc basis. Thus, 315 doctors are excess in the State.
The Minister said there is no shortage of medicines in the government hospitals in the State.
A sum of Rs.30 crore had been given to the Health Department and 206 medicines purchased with this amount.
In reply to a question, Minister for Tourism A.P. Anil Kumar said Kerala Tourism was working out the Spice Route by linking 31 countries.
