<p>The government will set up Kerala Cashew Board to make available raw cashew nut for cashew factories in the State, Minister for Cashew Industry J. Mercykutty Amma has said. The government would hold talks with officials of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and nationalised banks in the capital to work out the modalities, the Minister said while replying to questions in the Assembly on Thursday. Cashew factories in the public sector had opened at the initiative of the government. But they were not getting the required raw cashew nut. The RBI had suggested a Special Purpose Vehicle to overcome the crisis and for procurement of raw cashew nut, the Minister said. The Fisheries Minister said the organisation of planters had come forward to make available raw cashew nut needed for cashew factories locally. The project was to be executed with the help of the Revenue Department. The government will launch a Rs. 1,3000-crore project, Suchitha Theeram, to take care of the health and social issues being faced in coastal regions. The project will focus on cleanliness, health, environment protection and preliminary works has commenced, the Minister said in reply to another question. The Akshara Sagaram project being executed by the State Literacy Mission will be extended to all districts.Minister for Forest K. Raju informed the House that 3,180.18 hectares of forest had been hit by forest fire during the last financial year. As many as 510 cases had been registered in the state for various offences in the forest since the present government came to power.</p>