Kerala - Alappuzha   

Isaac: State not to wait for Central assistance

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac

ALAPPUZHA: Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac has said the State government will begin work on certain crucial proposals in the M.S. Swaminathan Commission report without waiting for the Rs.1,840-crore Kuttanad package from the Union government.

Addressing a meet-the-press here on Saturday, Dr. Isaac said the State government had submitted project reports for the package several months back. But funds were yet to be allocated, prompting the State government to begin work without waiting for the Centre.

The works to begin would be the completion of the Thanneermukkom barrage and revival of the Alappuzha-Changanassery canal to make it fit for water transport. Work on the barrage, crucial to Kuttanad’s agriculture sector, would include establishment of a moving bridge and provision of more shutters.

The bridge, Dr. Isaac said, would be to facilitate easy way for barges and water transport to the proposed inland container terminal in Kottayam. Modalities for the project, estimated to cost around Rs.160 crore, were being worked out.

The revival of the canal, which was unfit for transport due to several unscientific constructions and bridges across it, was expected to cost Rs.60 crore and would be a major boost for the tourism sector and the local industry.

“Funds will not be a problem for these works. If the Centre releases the fund in time, we will utilise it, otherwise the State government will complete the work on its own,” he said.

Dr. Isaac said he was worried about putting together enough development projects for the State when the available funds for such projects would be around Rs.6,000 crore by 2010, which was when the State would be able to claim a revenue deficit, and if possible, a surplus budget. The State’s administrative machinery would have to increase its efficiency by several bounds to be able to utilise such amounts, he said.

Without blaming local self-governing bodies, the Minister said as of now, the machinery was not capable of completing major projects on time. With the State government not keen on handing over crucial affairs like drinking water to private-public partnerships, it would be up to the government machinery to pull up its socks, he said.

Reiterating that he was not averse to loosening the strings for capital expenditure, Dr. Isaac said he would have to turn a miser when it came to unnecessary revenue expenditure. A political will was necessary to curtail such expenditure, which would upset the State’s financial growth. Under the present circumstances, his dream of a revenue deficit budget by 2010-2011 was achievable, the Minister said.

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

Stories in this Section

Big budgetary support for coir sector: Isaac
Ayurveda treatment package planned
Isaac: State not to wait for Central assistance

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu