PATHANAMTHITTA: The Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FOKANA) has proposed various development initiatives for central Kerala comprising the districts of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and parts of Alappuzha, Kollam and Idukki.

Talking to The Hindu , the newly elected president of FOKANA, which is an umbrella organisation of various Malayali associations in North America and Canada, Sasidharan Nair, of Manackal in Melukara on the banks of the Pampa, near Kozhencherry, said Keralites in the U.S. and Canada were keen on investing in their home State, provided there was a conducive `climate' for the same.

Mr. Nair said he the organisation had proposed a Central Travancore Development Corporation (CTDC) to implement the proposed airport project. This was also included in his 10-point election manifesto for the polls to the FOKANA national council.

Mr. Sasidharan Nair said he, along with Aranmula MLA K.C. Rajagopal, had held talks in this regard with Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Minister for Home and Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. They had promised to extend Government support for the project, he added.

He said the proposed CTDC envisaged 20 per cent of its share with the State Government, with the Chief Minister as chairman. Like-minded Non-Resident Keralites' (NRK) organisations in West Asia, Europe and other parts of the globe should be permitted to become shareholders in the proposed FOKANA-State joint venture, he said.

"At present, there are two live proposals before us. One is to set up the airport on the 250-acre low-lying land in Aranmula with the CTDC headquarters and a flying club in the adjoining town of Thiruvalla. The second option is to set up the airport at Pamala, near Thiruvalla, with a flying club in Aranmula," Mr. Nair said.

He said the Mount Zion Trust had already come forward with a proposal to hand over 250 acres of land in Aranmula for the proposed CTDC airport.

Mr. Nair said FOKANA was clear in its stand that the proposed CTDC project should be a purely business venture.

"The project should be scientifically designed so as to avoid major environmental problems due to conversion of low-lying lands. Proper drains and canals should be planned, besides various other schemes for ground water recharging, as in the developed countries, he said.

FOKANA also proposes to construct 100 houses for the homeless poor and to provide assistance for medical care, including open heart surgeries and cancer treatment, to the economically backward sections of society through various non-governmental agencies.

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