The Hindu : Front Page : State will be made an economic powerhouse by 2010: Governor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 27, 2006

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State will be made an economic powerhouse by 2010: Governor

Staff Reporter

Work in unison, he tells Keralites in his Republic Day address

SALUTING THE NATIONAL FLAG: Governor R.L. Bhatia and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy salute the national flag at the Republic Day parade in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. — Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Thiruvananthapuram: Governor R.L. Bhatia has said the goal of the Government is to make the State an economic powerhouse by 2010

In his address to the people of the State on the occasion of the 57th Republic Day parade here on Thursday, he said the Government was committed to pursuing the 10-point development agenda presented by President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. "I sincerely feel we should sink our narrow differences and work in unison for a bright future, commensurate with the abundant human potential this beautiful State is endowed with."

Kerala is on the take-off stage for all-round development. The Vallarpadam container terminal, the LNG-based expansion programme of NTPC Ltd. in Kayamkulam, new initiatives in the Information Technology sector and the Vizhinjam harbour project are all forerunners of a new Kerala of "our dreams," he said.

He said it was imperative to speed up the process of rehabilitation of tsunami victims in the State. The Government has been working in tandem with non-governmental organisations for building houses for the victims.

He expressed concern at the alarming number of road accidents in the State. "It is high time we took effective remedial measures to curb such mishaps."

Earlier, the Governor unfurled the national flag. The parade presented the "National Salute." Nine armed units, including that of the Army, the Air Force, Central Reserve Police Force and Central Industrial Security Force took part in the parade along with various divisions of the National Cadet Corps, State police units and Bharath Scouts and Guides. A large choir of schoolchildren rendered patriotic songs. Students of various schools in the city staged a colourful cultural programme.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Finance Minister Vakkom Purushothaman, Cooperation Minister M.V. Raghavan, Chief Secretary M. Vijayanunni, Director-General of Police Raman Sreevastava and Air Officer Commanding, Southern Air Command, Air Marshall S.Y Savur, were among those present.

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