Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Budget evokes strong reactions

Special Correspondent

Thiruvananthapuram: The budget presented by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac in the Assembly on Friday has elicited widespread discontent among various organisations and pressure groups campaigning for the development of the city.

Many of them have come out with strong reactions expressing disappointment over the lack of adequate allocation for infrastructure projects in the capital region.

Chamber of Commerce president M. Sangeethkumar said the budget had let down the city. "Apart from the telecom city, there is no serious proposal for the capital region. Even though the budget announces the decision to re-tender the Vizhinjam project, it has not earmarked funds for major projects. The Technocity project does not even find a mention in the budget and road development has been ignored. There is no allocation for the Capital Region Development Programme, while funds have been earmarked for the Metro Rail and Info Park projects in Kochi," he said.

The Thiruvananthapuram Residents' Apex Council (TRAC) also expressed disappointment over the lack of importance given to the development of the capital city in the budget. "While the proposals for establishing a telecom city, completing the Norka centre and setting up a special venue for the film festival are welcome, it is unfortunate that the thrust given to the development of the capital city in the previous budgets is missing in this year's proposals, a press note quoting TRAC president Amaravila Ramakrishnan Nair and secretary K.T. Roy said here on Friday.

The press note said it was sad that the Government had to depend entirely on financial assistance from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and the ADB for the development of the city. "Leaving out the capital city while allocating funds for Infopark and the development of Kochi city is discriminatory. It sets an unhealthy precedent," the press note said. Federation of Residents' Associations, Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT) general secretary Paraniyam Devakumar said it was unfortunate that there was no mention of a High Court Bench in the budget.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Rs.13 crore for third phase expansion of Technopark
Budget evokes strong reactions
Sand seized in anti-mining drive
Sunidhi Chauhan rocks city
15 trees to be axed for road widening
KMML's cost cutting measures
Slamming the budget
Around The City
In Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu