THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday accused the Left Democratic Front (LDF) Government of scuttling the capital region development projects initiated by the previous United Democratic Front Government, for narrow political gains. Inaugurating a seminar on the development of Thiruananthapuram district organised by the District Congress Committee, he called for a broad political consensus on development issues.

Stressing the need for continuity in development programmes, he called for a long-term plan to sustain the enviable achievements of the State, especially in the Health and Education sectors. "Unfortunately, we have a situation in which a Government tries to undo development projects for political mileage. The same compulsions force some political parties to rewrite history and appropriate the historic achievements of the State. No one can deny the role played by the Indian National Congress in the social and economic growth of the State."

Mr. Chennithala alleged that the LDF Government was dragging its feet on the preparation of detailed project reports for the development of Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi cities under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). "While all the other States in the country have already availed of the first instalment of JNNURM funds, Kerala is yet to tap the massive dose of assistance offered by the Union Government for development of urban infrastructure," he said.

Mr. Chennithala said the previous UDF Government headed by Oommen Chandy had to face stiff political opposition to prepare the ground for the development of the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram, the construction of an international container terminal at Vizhinjam and the Technocity project. "The health insurance scheme initiated by the UDF regime was also scrapped by the LDF government for narrow political gain," he said.

Mr.Chennithala said the impasse facing the Smart City project for the last eight months was threatening to dissuade investors in Kerala. He called on the LDF leadership to re-evaluate its approach to development.

Mr.Chennithala urged political parties to join hands to evolve a long-term consensus on the need for perspective planning and action programmes to ensure sustainable development.

Former Finance Minister Vakkom Purushothaman said the Left parties had failed to understand the development priorities of the State. He said the Government had failed to follow up many of the city development projects.

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