The State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to grant no objection certificates (NOCs) to corporate managements for starting law colleges in the self-financing sector. Speaking to the media after a Cabinet meeting, the chief minister Mr Oommen Chandy said the NOCs would be issued with due regard to the conditions stipulated by the Bar Council of India and the Bar Council of Kerala.

“The demand for such colleges is limited, and the norms would be very strict.’ The Cabinet approved the plan outlay of Rs 1412 crore for 2012-13 as recommended by State Planning Board.

The government appointed Mr G. C. Gopala Pillai as special officer to avail for the state the projects listed under the Centre’s manufacturing policy. He will coordinate with the Centre on such projects.

A special purpose vehicle will also be constituted for framing projects in line with the needs of the manufacturing sector.

Another major decision was to revise the PWD manual. The state has been following the PWD manual that came into being some 40 years ago and the norms were found to be outdated.

Experts had time and gain pointed out that the absence of a revised manual was adversely affecting the implementation of roads project in the state.

The cabinet also sanctioned 35 acres of land for setting up an engineering college in the cooperative sector under the CAPE.