The Kerala Cabinet on Wednesday approved changes in the structure and functioning of the Kuttanad Development Coordination Council in connection with the implementation of the second phase of the Kuttanad package.
The restructuring will include a new framework comprising the Central Project Processing Unit – Kuttanadu Regional Development (CPPU-KRD), Implementation and Technical Committees, Working Groups and the Kuttanadu Cell.
The Chief Secretary has been appointed as the convener of the Kuttanad Development Coordination Board. As a member of the State Planning Council, he will work in the field of agriculture, water resources, fisheries and animal husbandry.
A Central Project Processing Unit will be established at the State Planning Board level specifically for the regional development of Kuttanad. Matters relating to the CPPU–KRD will be reported to the Member Secretary of the State Planning Board who is also the Special Officer for the Kuttanad Package. CPPU-KRD will include experts from the fields of information technology, finance and water resources.
Implementation and technical committees will be formed in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. District Panchayat Presidents will serve as Chairpersons and District Collectors as Committee Convenors. These bodies will function as sub-committees of the District Planning Committee (DPC). The Joint Registrar of Cooperation, Project Coordinator and MGNREGS representatives will also be members of the District Level Implementation and Technical Committees.
Project proposals prepared by various departments will be reviewed by district level committees and forwarded to CPPU-KRD. Interdistrict projects will be prepared by the unions after consultation with the relevant KŘP.
Administrative sanction for projects up to ₹ 5 crore will be given at the district level as per the CPPU-KRD guidelines. Existing procedures will be followed when approving and implementing projects of local self-government institutions.
₹ 253.06 crore for Supplyco
The Cabinet also decided to release ₹ 253.06 crore to the Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco) for its out-turn ratio (OTR) liabilities for the paddy procurement period from 2019-20 to 2021-22. The OTR is 68% per quintal as fixed by the Centre. The mill owners wanted the OTR to be revised to 64.5% due to loss of productivity. In 2017, they also refused to pick up the harvested rice, drawing attention to the issue. Following this, the state government has agreed to bear the financial responsibility until the Center changes the OTR to 64.5%.
Published – 11 Feb 2026 20:11 IST