The Hindu : Antony calls for `Goshree-type' approach to development

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 11, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Antony calls for `Goshree-type' approach to development

By Our Special Correspondent

KOCHI, FEB. 10 . The Chief Minister, A.K. Antony, has called for a Goshree-type of approach to the State's development issues.

He told mediapersons here on Tuesday, that all sections of society had cooperated with the Government in making the Goshree bridges a reality.

Political parties had shed their differences, trade unions had not struck work and people from all walks of life had supported the project.

Because of this cooperation and support, the work could be completed in time and the half-a-century-old dream of the islanders had become a reality, he pointed out.

"If the Goshree-type of cooperation continues, development work can be carried out smoothly and quickly,'' Mr. Antony remarked.

He said that a `Kochi model of development' that laid emphasis on sinking differences of opinion on development issues of the State, was slowly emerging. The mindset of the people was changing too, he claimed.

He said that 2004 was the year of development. This year, the development focus would be on Thiruvananthapuram.

Next year, it would shift to Kochi and Kozhikode. Kochi was becoming the nerve centre of the State. The city had unlimited scope for economic growth, like Mumbai, he said.

He expected an investment of around Rs. 7,000 crores in Kochi in the next six years.

The projects on the anvil included the Vallarpadom project, the LNG project at Puthuvype and a golf course.

He had asked the Kochi Corporation, the Greater Cochin Development Authority, the Port Trust and other city-based Government agencies to draw up a vision statement for the development of Kochi in the next quarter century. This vision would be discussed in May and the work on it would begin next year, he explained.

The Vallarpadom project was on the top on the Government's development agenda.

The Vizhinjam and Azheekal ports would be developed as part of the `Sagarmala' project. He would seek the Prime Minister's intervention to get the confusion over the NTPC project lifted, he said.

Mr. Antony said that the Goshree bridges would be opened for local residents by March-end. However, the formal opening would be after the Lok Sabha elections.

There were a few finishing touches to be given to the bridges, which would take some more time, he added.

Asked about his party president, Sonia Gandhi's statement that Mr. Antony himself would address his remarks on the minority-majority equation, Mr. Antony said that he was `neutral' when it came to communities.

He did not belong to a particular community, he said. "I do not practise hypocrisy,'' he remarked.

As for the implementation of the Narendran Commission recommendation, the Chief Minister said he alone could not take a decision on the issue.

It was up to the entire Cabinet to decide. "I am not an autocrat,'' he said.

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