The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : `Drop move to shift marine aquarium'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 06, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

`Drop move to shift marine aquarium'

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram MP Pannian Ravindran has urged Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to drop the move to shift the marine aquarium and research centre under the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) at Vizhinjam near here.

In a memorandum submitted to the Minister, Mr. Ravindran said the relocation of the institution would affect the development potential of the State. He alleged that a section of officials and private firms were trying to shift the facility.

Mr. Ravindran said the Indian Council for Agriculture Research was yet to take possession of the 1.7 acres offered by the State Government in April 2003 to construct permanent buildings for the aquarium and research centre. He said the estimates for the proposed complex had also been submitted to the ICAR.

Mr. Ravindran said a high-level review committee had given a favourable report highlighting the urgent need to develop the centre.

The DYFI and CPI on Thursday took out a march to the aquarium at Vizhinjam to protest against the move to close down the facility. The march culminated in a public meeting.

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