Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 27 (UNI) The Kerala government has decided to go for load shedding for 15 days from January 1 due to repair work at the Neriamangalam-extension generating station.

Briefing newspersons after a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said load shedding would be for half-an-hour during evening peak hours.

Lashing out at the Centre for cutting Kerala's power quota, the state had to get 323 MW power but had got only 183 MW, he said adding the State is reeling under power shortage and the Centre should restore full share due to the state.

The Cabinet also decided to take up again with the Kerala High Court Chief Justice and the Centre the setting up of a High Court Bench in the capital. The Chief Justice in a letter had told that it was not practicable for starting a HC Bench in the capital. The Kerala Assembly had passed resolutions and appealed to the Centre in this regard, Mr Achuthanadan pointed out.

It decided to grant sanction for developing a maritime institute at Manjeshwaram in Kasargod district for which the Maritime Department had been asked to prepare a project report.

The Cabinet decided to request the Centre to include Marathi speaking people in Kasargod district to be included in the SC list.

Asked about the soaring prices of rice, he said it was only because of the Centre's wrong policy towards the state. The centre had curtailed the state's quota as such the price had increased, he said.

Regarding Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy's demand for withdrawal of one per cent tax levied on rice for providing relief to the people, he said such a demand was not raised by Mr Chandy or Pradesh Congress president Ramesh Chennithala earlier. He also questioned the rationale behind raising such demands at this time.

''If Mr Chandy and Mr Chennithala are so worried about the price hike, they should have raised their voice against the Centre for curtailing the state's quota of food grains,'' he added.

UNI