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Vested interests behind incidents of violence: VS

Achuthanandan sees bid to tarnish the image of government.

ALAPPUZHA: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said here on Friday that vested interests who wanted to tarnish the image of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government were behind the incidents of violence in the State.

Addressing a meeting after laying the foundation stone for mini-fishing harbours at Arthunkal and Chethi, 22 km from here, Mr. Achuthanandan said they were also spreading false propaganda about the government. The police were being attacked and provoked unnecessarily, he said, adding that such attempts would not discourage the LDF government from going ahead with its development-oriented programmes.

He said tsunami rehabilitation works, using funds of Rs.1,442 crore, were progressing in nine districts and would be completed by March 2009. The fishing harbours were part of these works and were aimed at improving the living conditions of the coastal public, he said.

Fisheries Minister S. Sarma, who presided over both the functions, said the Arthunkal mini-fishing harbour project would comprise two breakwater structures of 1,350 metres and 600 metres. He said 190 metres of each structure would be completed in the Rs.5-crore first phase of the project. A dredging administrative block, parking area, locker rooms, water and power supply infrastructure and a gate house would also be part of the first phase.

The Rs.37-crore second phase, for which a project report has been submitted, would involve completion of the breakwater structures, a wharf, an auction hall and more facilities. The Arthunkal facility was expected to benefit around 3,457 traditional fishing boats and 711 motorized boats, he said.

The Chethi harbour would have two breakwater structures of 230 metres each and a 45-metre wharf, expected to accommodate around 150 boats. A 240-square metre auction hall would also be part of the Rs. 5-crore first phase while the project report for the second phase, estimated to cost Rs.20 crore, had been submitted, Mr. Sarma said.

Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac, speaking at the Chethi harbour, said the LDF government had initiated work on five harbours so far, while foundation stones for another five would be laid this year. Next year, work on 16 more harbours would be initiated, thus giving a major boost to the fisheries sector in the State.

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