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Implement package for Idukki: Kerala tells Centre

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government has demanded that the Centre implement the agriculture package for Idukki district, submitted by agriculture scientist M.S. Swaminathan, in a time-bound manner.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan told reporters here on Friday that the package, aimed at development of the plantation and farming sectors, was drawn up in the wake of agriculture crisis and high incidence of farmers’ suicide. The Centre has not taken any decision on the Kuttanad package submitted nine months back. Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar responded positively to the demands, the Union Water Resources Ministry was impeding the package implementation on technical grounds, he said. Mr. Achuthanandan said that he was yet to get the details of the package for Idukki. The State government would clear hitches, if any, he said.

Steps for more paddy

The Local Administration Department has directed the panchayats to increase the area under paddy cultivation. To begin with, each panchayat would start paddy cultivation in 10 acres and this would be increased in the coming years. Local self-government institutions have been told to utilise the Rs.600 crore given for agriculture to increase paddy cultivation. Interest-free loans would be given to farmers. Stringent action would be taken against reclamation of paddy fields, he said.

The Chief Minister said that the Software Technology Parks of India director has informed that the software exports from the State has registered 60 per cent increase. It touched Rs.1,200 crore during 2007-08, as against the Rs.750 crore in 2006-07.

Forty-one IT companies have set up units in the two parks and invested Rs.1,200 crore. The drive to clear revenue land of encroachments would be revived after clearing the cases pending in various courts following the eviction drive in Munnar and other districts.

Some District Collectors have been lax in taking action against encroachments. Such Collectors would be shifted, he said.

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