The Hindu : Front Page : Plan to send all-party delegation to Delhi

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Sunday, Feb 26, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Plan to send all-party delegation to Delhi

Special Correspondent

Aggrieved over `neglect' of the State in Railway Budget for 2006-07

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala will convey to the Union Government its grievance over the way the Railway Budget proposals have bypassed it, the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday, Mr. Chandy said the State had submitted 16 demands to Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad prior to the Budget preparation exercise. None of these had found a place in the budget, he said.

Mr. Chandy said that one demand was for a new railway zone for the State. It would have gone a long way in stimulating railway development in the State. Doubling and electrification of the lines and construction of sufficient number of road overbridges were two other demands. The Railway Budget did not provide enough allocation for such works in Kerala. The State had also sought new trains to Bangalore, where a large number of Keralites worked.

He said the State would send an all-party delegation to New Delhi to convey its sentiments. This delegation would be constituted in consultation with Leader of the Opposition V. S. Achuthanandan.

Mr. Chandy said Rs.40 crores would be spent on `Vision 2010' proposals of the State before the end of March this year. An immediate proposal was to set up three units making `neera' (a soft drink) from coconut trees at Perambra in Kozhikode district and Aralam and Payyannur in Kannur district. He said the unit at Perambra would have assistance from the Coconut Development Board, while the one at Payyannur would be under the charge of the Indian Farmers' Movement. He said Kerala Agricultural University would set up the unit at Aralam with an assistance of Rs.32 lakhs from the State.

Mr. Chandy said the tribal families rehabilitated in the Aralam farm by the Government would be the main beneficiaries of the `neera' unit there. A fee of Rs.30 was applicable for licence to tap a coconut tree for `neera,' but the tribal beneficiaries would not have to pay it. The Chief Minister said a proposal to manufacture bio-fuel using tapioca was also before the Government. A high-level meeting attended by the Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister K. R. Gouri on Saturday decided to refer this proposal to the Cabinet for its approval.

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