The Hindu : Front Page : Venugopal asserts Government stand

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Friday, Nov 04, 2005

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Venugopal asserts Government stand

Special Correspondent

Institutional arrangement planned to address complaints about TDB's functioning

Thiruvananthapuram: Devaswom Minister K.C. Venugopal on Thursday made it clear that the State Government was thinking of an institutional arrangement that would address some of the complaints that had come out against the Travancore Devaswom Board's (TDB) functioning.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Venugopal said the Government would, however, take a final decision on this after all-round consultations.

However, the Government would not take any decision that would tamper with its autonomous stature. He said that whatever changes the Government contemplated would be in tune with the traditional rituals and aimed at infusing transparency in the TDB's functioning.

Denying news reports that the Government planned to restructure the TDB, Mr. Venugopal said the Government had received several complaints from a cross-section of society, including social organisations, about recruitment of staff.

He said the Government could not be a mere spectator when such complaints were brought to its notice. As a Minister and public servant, it was his duty to respond to such issues, he asserted.

He said neither the Chief Minister, the KPCC president, the Government nor the Minister had any role in the appointments to the TDB. There was no basis to the charge that the Government was interfering in the functioning of the TDB.

"I am prepared to respond if any one can show me an instance of Government interference," he said. The only occasion that the Government handled the TDB's affairs was in relation to the release of forest land for the development of Sabarimala, he said.

Denies differences

The Government had taken the initiative to reduce bus fares to Sabarimala, besides reducing the electricity tariff, he said. Asked whether there were any differences between him and the TDB president, Mr. Venugopal said he had no differences with the latter. But the Government would have no other alternative but to examine complaints.

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