Period to utilize plan fund extended

Thiruvananthapuram: The state Cabinet Wednesday decided to extend the period of plan fund utilisation of the local bodies for fiscal 2014-15 by another year.

Announcing the decision at a press conference here, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said the decision would enable local self-governments to use the funds at their disposal in the t next financial year.

The decision allayed concerns over the fund getting lapsed by March 31, he added.

Total plan outlay for local self-government for the current Financial Year was Rs 4,708 cr.

On other cabinet decisions, he said, the government decided to take over the medical college run by ESI Corporation at Parippally in Kollam district, adding, it would now become a state-run government medical college.

Terms and conditions for the handover was being worked out.

"It was decided to formally intimate the ESI Corporation the government readiness to take over the medical college," Chandy said.