THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Cabinet has decided to set up a pilot production facility for graphene in the state. It will be set up on a PPP model at a cost of Rs 237 crore. Kerala Digital University will be the implementing agency. KINFRA has been appointed as the special purpose vehicle for infrastructure development. Digital University was given permission to prepare a preliminary proposal to seek a loan from KIIFB for the project and to seek private partners through a global expression of interest. A managing committee will be formed under the chairmanship of Kerala Digital University for the Graphene Pilot Production Facility project and the committee will include representatives from the Department of Industries, Department of IT and KINFRA.

It was announced in the budget speech for 2022-23 that a graphene eco-system will be set up to encourage industries working on future material technologies. India Innovation Center for Graphene, a research and development center set up for graphene-based technology development, which is part of the proposed graphene ecosystem, is in its initial stages. A mid-scale graphene pilot production unit is currently being commissioned to produce graphene products developed through research on an industrial basis.

Other decisions of the Cabinet

Will be extended

The tenure of 15 temporary clerk posts appointed in the Department of Public Education has been extended subject to conditions under the scheme of appointing the best sportspersons in the government service. The extension will be granted subject to the strict condition that the existing employees appointed through sports quota should be regularized in the next vacancies.

Permission to buy medicine

Medical Services Corporation Limited has been sanctioned for procurement of Equine Anti-rabies Immunoglobulin for the year 2023-24.

Government Pleader

Adv T Geenakumari will be appointed to the post of Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor of Thiruvananthapuram District. Adv P Anil has been reappointed as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor of Palakkad District.

Government guarantee

An additional government guarantee of Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned to the Kerala State Backward Classes Corporation for wider implementation of the schemes of the National Safai Karmachari Financial Development Corporation.