KOCHI: The Centre will approve development schemes if the States prepared good project reports and convinced the Government about their viability, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said, in an informal chat with mediapersons at the Government guest house here on Monday.

"It is not enough that decisions are taken, they have to be implemented in a time-bound manner. A new working style has to be adopted this year to avoid controversies in different projects. It is sad that Kerala tops other States as far as creating controversies goes. The high literacy of the people should be put to constructive use," the Union Minister said.

He said projects in Kerala were ``getting delayed as they got bogged down by controversies.''

``Do not misunderstand me. I will not say that there should be no discussions. However, it does not augur well for the state if no decisions are implemented due to controversies.''

Pointing to neighbouring States, Mr. Antony said they were all developing very fast and projects were not being delayed due to any controversies, unlike Kerala. "We must take advantage of the favourable situation prevailing now at the Central level.''

On the Ezhimala Naval Academy in Kannur district, he said the work was in progress and it was expected to be complete and commissioned by January 2009.

When asked about the increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS cases being reported in defence forces, he said the forces were not facing any major threat, but all precautions were being taken.

Mr. Antony said that the UPA Government at the Centre was pro-development and had a positive approach towards Kerala.

"The Defence Ministry has not in any way objected to the proposed international container transhipment terminal at Vallarpadam. I had taken up the issue of speeding up the project with many Prime Ministers, over 12 times. I will pool in my mite so that the project (and other development schemes in Kerala) are completed on a war-footing."

The Centre had never objected to Kerala's development. Clarifications were posed on different counts and this was natural, he said, adding that the Government was willing to place more orders with the Cochin Shipyard, Mr. Antony said.

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